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I know that we’ve been harping on about this for months now, but it really does seem that people are looking to improve rather than move from their homes.

With house prices predicted to fall by up to 35 per cent in the next two years, home improvement is once again high on the list of priorities for the homeowner, as they attempt to sit tight and wait it out.

So what advice is out there for those looking to invest in a spot of renovation on their property?

According to the industry body Construction Skills, Britain’s construction industry is facing a “workforce timebomb”.

Although the lack of people willing to join the building trade isn’t such a problem in the current economic climate, when things eventually pick up, the lack of skilled workers could turn into a crisis.

Mark Farrar from Construction Skills claims that "We haven't had a workforce this old since the Second World War".

With Wimbledon fever once again gripping the nation, it has been revealed that it is not just strawberry stockists who are cashing in.

Landlords and residents who happen to live near the All England Tennis club are hitting the jackpot by renting out rooms to players participating in the tournament.

Far be it for me state-the-bleeding-obvious, but the growth of online advertising continues unabated; bucking the trend for more conventional forms of media advertising.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe has just released the findings of its annual advertising expenditure survey for the year ended December 2007.

The BBC is reporting that energy bills could soar by as much as 40 per cent this winter, with oil and gas prices hitting all time highs.

This could result in households in the UK paying up to £400 more a year on average for their gas and electricity and will put even more pressure on homeowners already battling against high food and fuel costs.

So if you’re struggling with your bills, what can you do to ease the burden?

The floods of last summer gave us all a timely reminder as to how vulnerable we are to the natural elements.

Screwfix, the UK's largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products, has got a huge summer sale on right now. The fantastic discounts include up to 33 per cent off of Power Tools, 25 per cent off of Kitchens and 20 per cent off of Bathrooms.

The Federation of Master Builders has opened nominations for its annual Master Builder competition. It seems builders can even recommend themselves  for these awards, which will cover the following areas:

NEW HOMES. New Homes built by a builder who constructs fewer than 50 new homes a year
SMALL RENOVATION PROJECTS. Professional residential / domestic restoration, refurbishment or extension costing less than £50,000
LARGE RENOVATION PROJECTS. Professional residential / domestic restoration, refurbishment or extension costing more than £250,000

Hard to believe that it’s nearly a year since parts of the country were battered by the severe storms and unprecedented rainfall that lead to widespread flooding.

With property prices falling faster than the rain in Switzerland last night, homeowners are looking to stay put and upgrade their homes. This is resulting in a rise in competition for tradesmen and construction labour.

With this in mind, a survey conducted by Buildstore, has revealed the disparity that exists in the cost of tradesmen across the UK.