As the predicted cold weather starts to hit the North of England and the temperature starts to drop, the Chartered Surveyors at GSC Grays are advising homeowners to check their properties to help stop harsh weather from taking its toll on their property, heating and maintenance bills. Properties are vulnerable to attack both from the outside elements and the moist, warm conditions that build-up inside during the winter months, so now is an ideal opportunity to prepare.
The RICS have compiled a simple winter property checklist, which will help homeowners prepare for any colder weather in the coming months and includes:
Roof:
Inspect the roof and replace any cracked tiles
If chimney pots are in place but not in-use consider protecting them, by fitting ventilated cowls
Loft:
Check the insulation is in good condition (up to current standard)
Avoid over insulating – It is important that the tanks and pipes in the loft do not freeze, so do not insulate below the tank
Make sure the lid is on the cold-water tank
Gutters and drains:
Clear them of leaves and debris, taking particular care that the gulley’s are clear
Overflowing gutters can drench walls and cause water damage
Insulate external drain pipes (e.g. those for central heating) with waterproof lagging / tape or similar material
Walls:
33% of heat lost in the home is through the walls, cavity wall insulation is a good option and can boost its value and saleability while reducing your energy bills
Check the pointing – frost can play havoc with poorly maintained walls
Make sure water can run off the building; fill gaps to cement angle fillets at wall junctions
Consider fitting reflective foil behind radiators on outside walls
External paving:
In very cold weather, water on paving will freeze and become a hazard, ensure the paving is well drained and avoid water collecting, freezing and causing accidents
Decking:
Check that it hasn’t obstructed air bricks and gulley’s, plus it can be slippery when moist.
Windows:
Check perimeters of all windows to make sure water flows away from glass and doesn’t collect on the sill, or drain behind it
It is important to minimize draughts. If double-glazing is not in place (it cuts heat loss through windows by 50 percent), consider fitting cheaper options such as secondary glazing or put polythene across the window frames
Curtains can make a big difference to heat loss. Consider thermally insulated curtains for windows and the outside doors
Doors:
Stop draughts through letterboxes by fitting a cover and put a sealant around the door frames
Floors:
Fill gaps between exposed floor boards
If there are stripped floors in place consider putting down rugs in the winter to reduce draughts up between the boards
Ensure central heating pipework in the ventilated floor voids is insulated (70% of the heat input may be lost if un-insulated)
Chimney:
Have wood and coal burning flues swept
Boilers:
Have your boiler serviced annually
If you have a condensing boiler, insulate the external condensate and ensure it is of the correct bore
Consider fitting a trace heater to prevent the boiler from freezing
And finally, check your heating system is in order; insulate internal hot water tanks, and bleed radiators so they are working at their most efficient
While many of these simple tasks can be undertaken safely in the home, it is important that people seek the advice of reputable professionals when looking to complete larger jobs and most importantly, appropriately qualified contractors for works to gas, electric or oil based systems.
[team-member name=”David Cooper”]
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GSC Grays provide an experienced and professional service. From the initial contact with the valuer (Graham Wood) to the closure of the sale they keep you informed throughout. Graham and all of the staff are a pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend them. I would also give you a 5 star rating.
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I unhesitatingly recommend Gray’s Estate Agent in Barnard Castle. We explored a number of agents and chose GSC Grays not because they were the cheapest but because they most inspired our confidence. We were not disappointed; from the initial visit through various stages to completion we were impressed by the professionalism, attention to detail, excellent communication, competent negotiation, and willingness to go the extra mile in customer service. They facilitated the sale of our property in a way that made it feel a pleasure to sell.
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We have used GSC Grays for selling, purchasing, and renting and have experienced nothing but efficiency and above all friendliness. A great company in our opinion.
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We have moved house several times over the years so feel well qualified to recognise good efficient service when we see it. All the way through, from the initial valuation to the day of completion, everyone at GSC Grays made us feel our sale really mattered. We were kept well informed of the progress of the sale and any questions we had were answered promptly and clearly. We would definitely recommend GSC Grays to anyone planning to buy or sell a property.
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The team at GSC Grays went above and beyond for us. The sale of our property was a tricky one and the team managed it with professionalism, kindness, and enthusiasm. We cannot recommend them enough.
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Thank you once again for the excellent care you have taken of us during the sale and now the purchase of our house. We have felt all along that you really cared and were really interested. A wonderful service.
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I will have no hesitation in asking for your property expertise in the future or in recommending your company to others as I think the reports are first class.
Mr Thompson
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Thank you for all your help during our move. It all got quite stressful towards the end and it was great to have you at the end of the phone offering reassurance and advice. We got there in the end and we are delighted with our new home! Just wanted to let you know how much your help was appreciated!
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I just wanted to pass on my appreciation to the whole team for the fantastic job they did for me. The Sales Progression team had a particularly tricky job as the sale was less than easy but they were all amazing.
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GSC Grays were recommended to me and in the years which I have worked with them, I have found their approach excellent. They take a long term view and provide exactly the right balance between pushing things on whilst keeping me informed – I am delighted to have them on board.
C.C
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Excellent HomeBuyer Report service. Survey completed promptly and initial comments delivered by telephone within twenty-four hours with comprehensive written report received by post shortly after. Clear, concise documentation, which includes advice on rectifying defects and issues that legal advisors may wish to investigate, all professionally presented in a bound booklet enabling a timely informed decision to be achieved in respect of the purchase of the property. Thoroughly recommended.
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GSC Grays have always provided a professional and friendly letting service for me. Their regular updates and communication have meant total peace of mind that my properties are being managed with the up most of care. I would definitely recommend GSC Grays to other landlords.
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When your largest cost in selling/purchasing a new house is the estate agent fees it is a rather large cost to accept, especially with things like Rightmove been involved. However, once my sale was agreed and it was passed over to Catherine in the sales progression team I do believe the fee was easier to stomach as her role in the sale/purchase was worth its weight in gold, and without it, there is no doubt in my mind that things would have not got done in the timescales we and our seller wanted. I really do appreciate all of Catherine’s advice and help in keeping the whole process moving.
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Thank you so much to the Barnard Castle Branch and the Sales Progression team for all your help with the purchase of our new home. We are absolutely delighted with the property and were really impressed by the service and experience we had at GSC Grays.
H. Langford
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Thank you to everyone at GSC Grays for your friendly professionalism over the past two years and especially in more recent weeks. I greatly appreciated all you do and would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone!
J.N
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GSC Grays were recommended to me and in the years in which I have worked with them, I have found their approach excellent. They take a long term view and provide exactly the right balance between pushing things on whilst keeping me informed – I am delighted to have them on board.
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Theakston Land has worked with Calum and his team for many years. That work has included a detailed analysis of costs to maximise value. The development appraisal work undertaken with GCS Grays means that I am confident we are getting the best possible price. They make a positive contribution at all levels and help to drive forward long term and complex development projects.
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During 2020 Holly Story has worked on Barningham Estate helping us in our understanding of Natural Capital assets. Holly was instrumental in Barningham’s successful ELMs Test and Trial bid and is leading in the bid’s implementation. Her understanding and thought leadership are helping to bring clarity and good sense to what seems an increasingly complicated agricultural world.
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I used GSC Grays to secure planning for a straw processing building. The shed is in the Green Belt and I was astonished how smoothly the whole thing went through and how easy they were to work with.
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We have been working with GSC Grays Farm Business team since 2018 and with Robert Sullivan for over 20 years. The advice and insight of the team has been invaluable and means that we are now in a much stronger position to face the future and the changes in the industry with confidence. Their passion and commitment to us and the farm is integral to our success.
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We could not have chosen a better estate agent. Excellent work from start to finish from all the well-motivated professionals with whom we came into contact. The house was well marketed, and communications were superb, we were always kept well informed.
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