We've all had bad experiences with poor workmanship and disappearing builders but don't be dismayed - there are good people out there! Like anything in life, nothing is certain, but if you follow these simple rules, you will hopefully filter out the bad eggs and end up with what we're all looking for; good, dependable, honest tradesmen. 

Be Old-Fashioned

There is no "secret" book full of phone numbers for all the good workers in the world and even the most comprehensive website can offer mis-leading information. Why not get on the phone to your friends and ask if they know any good builders, painters or whatever you are looking for. If they've done a good job for your friend, there should be no reason they won't do a good job on your property. 

Be Neighbourly

If you notice Mr and Mrs Jones at No. 43 are getting a nice new porch fitted to their front door, go and say hello. Assess the workmanship and decide for yourself if you think they are offering a quality service. If you like what you see, ask some questions about price and you should be able to make a decision on the spot. Good tradesmen rely heavily on referral business so don't be shy - they'll love talking about what they do. If they don't, maybe they've got something to hide. Also, ask your neighbours about the service they received and if they are happy with the final result. If they are happy with the work then they will be glad to show off. If they aren't, then they'll be happy to release their anger and bad mouth the company that let them down. All you have to do is make sure you listen!

Shop Around

When you by shoes, you don't buy the first pair you try on. Instead, you try on a few pairs, look in different shops and make your decision after you feel you have enough information to contrast and compare the different options. We really should do the same when we are looking for a tradesman. You don't need to go with the first supplier you talk to. It's important to meet with different suppliers and get different quotes. That way, you can be confident that the price you end up paying is fare and honest. 

Listen and Learn

When you meet with a potential supplier, let him know exactly what work you want done and listen to his response. A good tradesman will ask plenty of questions and want to know exactly what you are looking for. If he asks lots of questions, it's likely that he is keen to do a good job and to provide you with what you are asking for. If he doesn't ask questions, and is only interested in talking about money, it's likely that he will be difficult to work with. 

Keep Your Eyes Peeled 

It seems like an obvious thing to say, but it's important to make sure that your tradesman is fully qualified and accredited. It's important that you know that the service and product you are left with is of a high quality. For example, Yale composite doors are all officially Police approved and are recognised by insurance companies, which means you could potentially pay less on your home insurance premium. 

Be Loyal

We all have different wants and needs and it's impossible to keep everybody happy all of the time. Some tradesmen click well with certain people and not so well with others. Just like when you find a good hairdresser or a coffee shop that makes your coffee just the way you like it, it's vital to build on these relationships and remain loyal. If you find a carpenter that you can trust and depend on, keep in touch with him. Not only can he provide you his services, but chances are, he will be able to recommend other good tradesmen to you. Likewise, it you keep supplying him with work, he will want to do a good job. It's a two way relationship after all. 

I was going to start this off by talking about how difficult it is to sell a house in the current economic climate. The property market has not been at its best for some years now and finding a buyer for your house isn't easy. But then it struck me. It has never been easy to sell a property and there have always been many different aspects involved in generating interest in your property. So why do some people sell their houses quick than others? I believe it's down to one thing; curb appeal!

Curb appeal refers to the very first impression a person gets when he/she sees your property for the first time. Admittedly, selling a house quickly is by no means an exact science, but, if there's one thing that we know for sure is this - good first impressions are vital if you are ever going to sell your property! Here are a few tips to improve your home's curb appeal. 

1. Step out of your skin

Stop thinking of your house as YOUR home. Next time you come home from work, stand outside your house for longer than you would normally. Try to imagine what a potential buyer would think when they see it for the first time. 

2. Make Note of Your First Impressions

What is the very first thing that you see? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? If it is a good thing, try to think how you could emphasise this.

e.g. Do you see a beautiful front lawn? Could you add a border of flowers or shrubs to make it even better? 

Or do you see something really bad? How could you fix this problem so that it doesn't put off potential buyers?

e.g. Do you see mould growing on the front door? Maybe you could easily clean the mould off and make the door fresh again. If it needs more work, do it! If you really want to sell your house, it is worth spending a couple of hours painting your front door!

3. Be Nosey

Potential buyers often get to the property that they are viewing earlier than the estate agent so that they can have a look around the garden and exterior of the house. Imagine you are a buyer looking for a new home. Walk around your house, as the buyer would. Is it clean and tidy? Does the garden need a lot of work? Is there rubbish flying around the path? Are the windows clean? Is it clean and tidy inside if you look through the window? If there is work to be done, DO IT! It is not your home any more, it's a show home!

All of these things add to people's first impressions and most potential buyers will make up their mind about a property, before they even step inside!

4. Improve Your Evening Curb Appeal with Outdoor Lighting

You may laugh and think that installing outdoor lighting is a bit OTT, but think about it. Most potential buyers will go to visit your house after work or in the evening, when the light is poor. If your house looks dark, dangerous or spooky, they won't want to come back to see more. 

Use simple low voltage lights to border your garden and foot path, and use them to highlight any particularly strong features. Make sure the entrance is well lit and looks warm, safe and inviting. Be sure to avoid football pitch flood lights!

5. Be Invisible

When a potential buyer views your property, they are trying to imagine themselves living there and how their lives would be if they bought the house. Get rid of any personal possessions which would make it difficult for them to do so. This includes things like your Manchester United flag or even leaving the drive way empty. They should be imagining their own car parked there and your car may spoil this mental image. 

Quick Tips for Better Curb Appeal

• A new front door and a lick of paint will give your house a major uplift. But if you can't afford this, make sure the front door is clean and that the hardware is polished. You can also clean moss and mould of the front of the house, even if you can't afford to paint it. 
• Even if you can't afford to re-landscape your garden, there is no excuse for not de-weeding and mowing the lawn. This is a must!
• Fresh flowers in the window! - For a few pounds you can make your house look fresh and vibrant!

Choosing the right materials when upgrading your house is invaluable but it’s important that you have a good understanding of what you are looking for before you part with your hard earned cash. Knowledge is power and in this case, knowledge can save you power. Your home’s energy efficiency depends on the quality of the materials you use. 

You can see the transfer of heat through your front doors by measuring the energy rating levels. The government legislation which was passed in October 2010, stated that all replacement composite doors and windows must have a U-value rating of 1.8Wm2K or less.

Energy Efficiency, Knowledge is Power 

Put simply, the better the energy efficiency rating of your door is, the less money you will need to spend on maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home. It sounds simple enough, but how do you find out how energy efficient a door is?

Most composite door manufacturers offer a detailed energy rating report which they send you with your door. This is great but also means that you won’t know exactly how energy efficient your door will be, until you’ve already paid. At Yale door, you can see exactly how efficient your door will be as you choose and customise your door. If you add glass, for example, our door configurator tool will adjust the efficiency indicator accordingly, so you can see exactly how efficient your door will be as you customise it.  Knowledge is only helpful if you have it at the right time!

The screenshots below demonstrate how you can view the energy rating as you customise your door. The door without glass has a fantastic “B” grade energy rating. You can also see how adding glass to a door has reduced the energy rating to a “C” grade.

Different materials offer drastically different levels of energy efficiency and when you are looking to replace your doors, it is invaluable that you know the U-value and energy rating before making your purchase. There is no point investing in a new door only to find out when it arrives that it is less energy efficient than the door you already have. 

Obviously your decisions won’t be based purely on how energy efficient the door is, as style and design are also important to us all.

Things That Will Affect Your Doors’ Energy Efficiency Rating

Generally speaking, the less glass you have in your door, the more energy efficient it will be. Many door manufacturers allow you to customise your door with different features. However, do they show you how these changes will affect the energy rating of the door? More often than not, the answer is no. 

The Yale door configurator tool updates the energy efficiency rating of your door as you pick and choose your preferred styles and features. This means that not only can you see exactly how your door will look, but also exactly how efficient it will be. 

Hardwood Door Energy Ratings

According to CENsolutions, a typical 60mm-65mm thick hardwood door has a U-value of around 2.5 to 3.0. Although hardwood doors are aesthetically pleasing, they do not meet U-value legislation and offer poor energy efficiency. 

Timber Door Energy Efficiency Ratings

Timber doors are said to be manufactured with the least energy consuming methods. This in itself is good for the environment but does not insure long term energy efficiency.  Timber doors offer the poorest energy efficiency levels and it has been said that it would be almost impossible to manufacture a timber door which would comply with a minimum U-value of 1.8W/m2k. 

UPVC Door Energy Efficiency Ratings

UPVC was a massive step forward for home energy efficiency and offer fantastically low U-values. Typically you will find most UPVC doors meet the U-value legislation of 1.8W/m2k. It’s worth noting, however, that much like other doors, adding glass to your UPVC door will lead to a higher U-value and poorer energy efficiency. Also, remember that although UPVC doors offer low U-values, the plastic materials they are made with can lead to a cheap looking finish. Practical, but not necessarily stylish.  

Composite Door Energy Efficiency Ratings

Composite doors are manufactured with the most modern materials available and offer the lowest U-values and outstanding energy efficiency. Unlike UPVC doors, composite doors are available in many different styles and finishes such as glass panelling and wood grain finishes. Composite doors have become increasingly popular as they combine the style and design benefits of wooden doors and the practicality and efficiency of UPVC doors.