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Are UK Mortgage Brokers as Bad as their Cousins in the USA?

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been taking a look at the US credit crisis and how
that’s going to affect us over here in Blightly.

In a nutshell, the whole kerfuffle has been caused by unscrupulous US mortgage brokers
preying on low-income families with scams ranging from hidden fees to extortionate rate
changes.

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With Christmas just around the corner and the New Year knocking at our door, we just can’t afford to have disruptions around the house. But what about that decorating job that you desperately need to complete? Enter ECOS paints applied by the skilled hands of the Meticulous Touch team. No harmful paint smells (good news for the little ones), friendly to the environment and a strictly no mess, no fuss strategy.

The constant notion of being ‘green’ weighs heavily upon us these days, but Meticulous Touch is already setting a remarkable trend. In partnership with ECOS, this quality decorating company is presenting new and existing clients with an exclusive offer for those who want to help reduce their carbon footprint. They will give a 10% discount off every decorating project when you enlist their services and choose to use the award winning paints from ECOS. Solvent free, non-toxic and completely organic, ECOS are extremely environmentally friendly; you can rest assured that your not only going ‘green’, but you’re also guaranteeing your home is allergen and toxic free. And that’s certainly something to take comfort in.

Based in South London, Meticulous Touch are an independent family run, domestic painting and decorating company- well established and always with their client’s best interests and details at heart. For further information, check out their entry on www.problemsolved.co.uk and give Samuel a call. Alternatively you can email the team and let them know your requirements (info@meticuloustouch.co.uk or samuelcharles@meticuloustouch.co.uk) and they will come back to you within the working day. A first class, premium service- we here at ProblemSolved certainly give them our stamp of approval.

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Dodgy water pressure or fluctuating temperatures can make your morning shower the catalyst to a very bad day, and that’s the last thing you need with an office party hangover to contend with. But you are on safe territory with the Mira Event XS Thermostatic. Easy to clean, and with separate temperature and flow controls, the thermostatic control prevents sudden temperature changes, giving a consistent, enjoyable showering experience, and a reliably good start to each morning. It is priced reasonably too at £452.38. Call 0845 6006 472 or visit Mirashowers.com

What with the ever increasing amount of bins needed for recycling, twice weekly collection and general household refuse, our gardens can end up looking more like a dumping ground – and that is before the excesses of Christmas wrapping paper, food and bottles. Luckily House Recycling is on hand offering these decorative screens. Sourced from sustainable timber, and priced from £50 for a one sided screen, these help keep all the clutter out of sight. This Full Double 140 litre screen is currently reduced from £299 to £199 with more discounts available online at Houserecycling.co.uk

Here are just some of the tradespeople you have recommended this week

• Flow London, unique bathroom design and installation, including online product shop. Based in SW London, covering London. Call 020 7733 7373 or visit Flowlondon.co.uk. Click here to visit Flow London’s profile on ProblemSolved.
• Desmond Gray, professional, reliable plumbing and property maintenance services. Based in Morden, covering Surrey and all London. Call 020 3087 2019 or 07855 268 880. Click here to visit Desmond Gray’s profile on ProblemSolved.
• Maxey Marble, well established, top quality floor restoration and stonework services. Based in N London, covering all London. Call 020 8203 8283. Click here to visit Maxey Marble’s profile on ProblemSolved.
• Barry Holmes, Professional Carpentry Services, carpenter offering kitchen and bathroom installation and wood floor fitting, covering all London, call 020 8550 8572 or 07779 666 381. Click here to visit Professional Carpentry Services’ profile on ProblemSolved.

If you are planning to up your recycling efforts in the new year, this Bosch XEO is a great Christmas gift. Use it to cut down cardboard boxes, plastic packaging, carpet or tough fabrics – those feeling creative can even fashion their own Christmas decorations from coloured cardboard. Priced from £34.99, the Bosch is available from Focus, B&Q, Homebase and all other leading retailers.

Well I’m delighted to have been invited to participate in the Problem Solved Blogs and I hope that you find the contents of the pieces I write over the coming months both useful and informative.

To introduce myself, I am Tim Foley, owner of the website www.kitchensfitted.co.uk and aside from our very popular forum that assists those buying and fitting kitchens and our website articles detailing how to fit a kitchen, we provide and install bespoke quality surfaces nationwide. My background is entirely in kitchens from spending almost 30 years as an installer to working as a contractor leading teams of installers around the country, to that of Project Consultant to a number of TV Shows such as Better Homes, 60 Minute Makeover and New Homes or Old, a Tonight with Trevor McDonald Special.

Anyway, enough of me and I’m happy to make your acquaintance dear reader.

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Putting good use to any of those remnant bits of carpet lying around the house, Easybind from Stairrods is a handy new way to bind rugs and runners at home with the use of only a simple hot glue gun.

Available in 23 varying colours of rope–style edging, Easybind can be attached to the edge of any length of carpet to create complementary stair runners or rugs for the home. Far cheaper than sending off carpet for professional bounding and over-locking, and far less time to wait for the end product,  Easybind can be attached and completed at home in a matter of minutes. To see the full range of colours on offer and to read more about this handy money saving product, click here to read about Stairrods’ Easybind available at StairHeaven.co.uk.

The countdown to Christmas has begun and the party season is underway. But with all those guests, muddy feet and pets – not to mention accidental food and drink spills, your carpets and upholstery will be lucky to escape unscathed. Which is why Stainbusters – the UK’s premier carpet and upholstery cleaning company – is offering to giveaway a professional clean (worth £250) to each of two lucky readers. For a chance to win, text ‘STAINBUSTERS’ to 87233 (texts cost 50p plus standard network rate) or send your contact details to competitions@myhomeplc.com before 10 December 07. The winner will be picked at random and contacted by 13 December 07. Stainbusters – 0800 137 772 or visit Stainbusters.co.uk

Here are just some of the tradespeople you have recommended this week:

• Kingsford PMB, high quality, professional building company with comprehensive services. Based in SW London, covering that area. Call 020 8404 9762 or visit Kingsfordpmb.com. Click here to view Kingsford PMB’s profile on ProblemSolved.
• Kandoo Services, well established company providing complete property maintenance services. Based in N London, covering that area. Call 020 8804 7816 or visit Kandooservices.com. Click here to view Kandoo Services’ profile on ProblemSolved.
• Floorplay, the trusted, environmentally friendly experts in flooring and related materials. Based in SE London, covering London, Essex, Sussex and Kent. Call 020 8698 1681 or visit Floorplay.uk.com. Click here to view Floorplay’s profile on ProblemSolved.

Competitively priced carpets are available all year round from Gilt Edge Carpets, so it rarely needs sales. A family company with a wealth of knowledge, it provides free advice and an expert planning, estimating and fitting service. Choose from wool, velvets, Seagrass, Jute – even Bamboo or Paper. It can also offer Vinyl, Lino, Rubber or Laminate flooring at prices starting from as little as £10 per square metre. This Sisal Stripes range (from The Alternative Flooring Company) is priced at £31.15 per square metre (inc.vat) and there’s a 25 per cent discount across the range for readers. Just call 020 7731 2588 or visit 255 New Kings Road, SW6 mentioning this offer. Giltedgecarpets.co.uk
 

After all that Christmas cooking, what better than a new cooker to see in the New Year? This Belling Sandringham 90DF 90cm dual fuel range cooker will do the trick. It boasts a multifunction electric main oven, a tall fanned oven with four moveable shelves and an electric grill. The hob offers five gas burners, including a wok burner, a removable cast iron griddle and a handy plate warming rack. And Belling is giving one (worth £1,199) to a lucky reader. For a chance to win, text ‘COOKER’ to 87233 (texts cost 50p plus standard network rate) or log onto Homesandproperty.co.uk/offers before 2 January 08. For more information on Belling, call 0871 222 2635 or visit Belling.co.uk
 

With the property market growing ever more unsettled, the more information you can have before taking the leap as a buyer or seller, can never be a bad thing. Fresh out of the box and here to help is Betternest.co.uk, a website which demonstrates a property's potential to be expanded and altered for maximum profit and spatial benefits.

Answering the three main questions on buyers and sellers lips, for a flat rate fee the Betternest Property Potential Report details what space can be added to a property, how much it will cost and the estimated profit made from the alterations. Whether its information to help prospective buyers decide between competing properties, or to assess the likely profit that can be realised by an owner in improving one, the Betternest Property Potential Report is a fast and useful individual property assessment.

To read more about what the site can offer and take some of the hassle out of investigating property, click here to visit Betternest.co.uk.

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