Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Unlike this lady, you needn’t be stressed moving house

Friday, February 19th, 2010

We didn’t know whether to laugh our cry after reading this little story! Remember kids, moving house is stress free with Robinsons!

“I never used to believe those surveys which ranked moving house in the Top 10 most stressful experiences in life. But following our move from North London to Surrey last week, I now know this to be true.

Stressful? There should be a Government Health Warning on moving house. Throughout that long, exhausting day I’m convinced my blood pressure hit danger levels on a number of occasions.

Watching the removal lorry slowly reverse into our car was certainly one of them. Only minutes earlier I’d taken the baby out of his car seat. We were parked a good 30 feet away, yet all three removal men swore they couldn’t see our family estate car in their rearview mirrors. It was a small dent in the bumper; a larger one to my confidence.

Then there was the £40 parking ticket slapped on the windscreen in the 30 seconds it took me to pick up my son from nursery. It was the equivalent of a goodbye card from those diligent employees of Islington Council.

While all this was going on, I was speaking to at least seven different operators at a call centre in the hope that one might possess the talent to set up an account on our new landline phone. They did not.

By the time we arrived at our new house (an hour stuck in rush-hour London traffic, another hour to get there) it was getting dark. Without a working landline phone I kept my mobile close at hand… until, that is, our over-tired toddler posted it down the toilet while I was running his bath. I suppose I can’t blame that one on house-moving: that’s just parenthood for you.

The next morning started with promise. We woke in our new home; the sun was shining, the birds tweeting. What could possibly go wrong today?

Within half an hour, a full mug of coffee slid off what we thought was a flat surface and all over the only carpet in the house that didn’t need replacing.

Then we locked ourselves out of the house. The previous owner had forgotten to drop the rather important Yale key with the agents on completion. We only realised this after we had slammed the front door.

How my husband managed to wriggle through the tiny downstairs window with the dodgy catch, I have no idea. I hadn’t seen such a contortionist since the Chinese State Circus came to town. He dropped six feet down onto the carpet, landing headfirst, and hasn’t been quite the same since.

Perhaps removal firms should provide an “after care” counselling service to help repair the shattered nerves of homeowners? Or a welcome pack containing spare keys, carpet cleaner, plasters, bandages, scotch and Valium?

—–



Vodafone ‘Sure Signal’ set to help poor reception

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Vodafone has now launched Vodafone Sure Signal, which is a nifty little plug in box that will give you full 3G coverage in your home or office. Costing £50, there will be no more trampolining on the sofa to try and send a text and no more having to climb the loft ladder every time you want to speak to gran.

In fact, a recent survey has shown that one in 50 of us have become so frustrated at the lack of mobile phone coverage that we have seriously considered moving house.

Quick and easy to install, Vodafone Sure Signal plugs straight into any home or office broadband line with a download speed of at least 1 MB per second and works with all 3G handsets.

Up to 32 people can be registered to use a Vodafone Sure Signal and four people can use it at any one time – meaning those sick of ‘no signal’ may put their drastic plans of home removals on hold for now.

Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK CEO said: “Customers tell us it is life changing. If they live or work in a basement for example, the only way they may be able to get consistent mobile coverage could be with a Vodafone Sure Signal.



Homeowners encouraged to up their asking prices

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Homeowners encouraged by the lowest stock levels for ten years have begun to increase their asking prices, property website Rightmove said today.

Optimistic sellers listing their properties in the New Year have been demanding 0.4% more than those who advertised in December.

According to Rightmove, the average asking price for UK properties fresh on the market is now £222,261, compared with £221,463 last month.

The property website said that an increasing number of buyers fighting for a very small number of properties has allowed sellers to jack up their asking prices as those looking for home removals strive to find a bargain.

‘The rise in asking prices is an early indicator that new sellers in 2010 have the confidence to try for a higher price,’ said Miles Shipside, Rightmove’s commercial director.

‘We are now seeing the lowest number of properties on the market this century.

‘Buyers have little choice in popular areas, and while this continues sellers have a window of opportunity to obtain a higher price and a speedier sale.’



Page 1 of 41234»