Having fun must be taken seriously because ‘living on the job’ as smallholders do it is easy just to work; this can be as destructive as not working enough, only this time family relationships suffer. Take time out with your family to do whatever you fancy. Sunday afternoon is usually a good time, or late [...]
Before long you will have compiled a good list of jobs requiring attention. Somehow this list has to be graded so that you can not only do the most important work first, but do the jobs in a logical order, each one building on another, rather than randomly doing a bit here and a bit [...]
This section states the obvious, but sometimes it is well worth stating. When selling anything presentation is all-important. The difference between the tidy garden with a few flowers around the front door and something less attractive can cost thousands of pounds. Most prospective buyers will drive by in a car first. If the outside appearance [...]
A problem can occur when an unsuitable property is found at what appears to be a bargain price (though this is a rare occurrence with today’s inflated prices). However, there has to be a reason for the depressed price and it will probably be that if it is unsuitable for you it will also be [...]
If you are looking for a property which is in need of considerable work you may find that it is eligible for certain grants towards this.
The grant system at present is divided into three types: the Intermediate, the repair and the improvement. All three are based on the value of the property.
The intermediate grant
This is [...]
Your choice of area will depend on a number of factors. One of the most important will be property prices. These vary widely from area to area and large variations can be found within an area. Prices depend upon immediate surroundings, condition of land and buildings and how keen the vendor is to sell the [...]
Having identified the projects between which your money is to be divided, you must set targets for these projects. Initially these will probably be time scales for setting up and general organisation, but financial targets must also be set. You should aim for a given payback period and then strive to meet that target. You [...]