When anyone buys a property with the use of a mortgage, there is an expectation, in fact, generally a requirement, that the buyer will ensure the property is kept in tip top condition. It is critical to read an insurance policy from cover to cover, and back again. If any document was likely to hold the odd surprise at any time, then one of those could. There are always stringent terms and conditions attached to each stage of a fully comprehensive insurance from ensuring no airbricks are blocked in any part of the house where a professional builder has chosen to provide them. These air bricks literally allow external air to flow freely and thus not contain particulates that clog an atmosphere.

On the building insurance side of a policy, it will cover the repairs to any part of the building that is crashed by human interaction, such as someone driving a car through the front window; assuming that this was an accident and not a prank or other action. The Insurers will insist on having an initial first hand review of any incident and if building work is needed, they will send in their assessor for costs. If the property is found to have been neglected or there was more to the vehicle managing to damage te property than first thought, this will be looked at. Any failure to have kept up a modicum of maintenance will be classed as having reneged on the policy by the policy holder. There are always stipulations – in bold – make it quite clear that the policyholder needs to keep all parts in good repair and now allow conditions to diminish because of wear and tear. This goes for all external items such as drain pipes, gutters; roofing issues; gutters and chimney flashings. Looking after one’s castle is essential and much cheaper in the long run to do these jobs on a regular basis.

With the advent of the out of town emporiums and retail parks, the do-it-yourself industry in terms of decorating and home maintenance products have never been easier to reach out for. atone time it was the norm for families to engage the services of the local painter and decorator who would come in for the specified period and do a couple of rooms at a time; leaving the rest for another year. Now there a is a massive choice of products in the superstores and with online videos giving expert advice on exactly how to achieve that particular finish you are looking for. It is much cheaper to do the decorating ourselves of course, but the finish will never be as good as that professional guy who has learned his craft and honed his skills over the years.

Many years ago I took the opportunity of engaging a seriously professional decorating chap who usually lived abroad in a hot climate and came back to ‘blighty’ every spring to carry out work on contract basis at some heritage properties. He was more than just a painter. He could turn his hand to plastering, pargetting, woodwork, carpentry in general and, very critically repairing things. Any things. This point was crucial to the success of the period of time concerned. He did not know me well, we only met a few times during my annual stays with a chum over there. So I took him on a zoom tour of my house and he quoted on that basis. We agreed terms which included him using my spare room as his base, thus saving hundred of pound for hotel accommodation. . . and 4 weeks later he arrived promptly on my doorstep at the given hour. After a very speedy cup of tea, and a trip down to the local supermarket for his favourite supplies, he set about his preparation work that very day. Amazingly he was able to dry out the porch and overhang space and check the lighting was still safe. This is the sort of thing that only a dedicated professional home painter, decorator and fixer upper manages.