House prices at auction continue to fall

The prices paid for property at auction still have a long way to fall, but the outlook for the housing market is not quite as dire as a few months ago.
New research suggests that in recent weeks prices of residential properties sold at auction were 25 per cent lower than the same home could have achieved had it been sold through an estate agent.

By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
Published: May 12 2009 00:02 Last updated: May 12 2009 00:02

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

Tips for eco-friendly computing

Tips for eco-friendly computing
The average PC takes 1.8 tonnes of chemicals, fossil fuel and water to manufacture and causes the emission of 100 kg carbon dioxide each year, but most of us simply couldn't live without one. Unfortunately, computers are becoming more power-hungry as we expect them to perform increasingly complex tasks for us.

Power drain
Desktop PCs that are plugged in all day are especially power-hungry. Unless you flick the switch on the wall or take the plug out of the wall a PC that is apparently turned off will still be using power. If you leave your computer monitor on all night you'll waste enough energy to microwave six dinners. A PC left running 24 hours per day would use £59 worth of electricity over a 12-month period and create 716 kg of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Small is beautiful
Laptops need to be as energy-efficient as possible so that they can go anywhere. The processors are designed to run on less power, the screens use as little energy as possible, all of which adds up to significant energy savings compared to a desktop PC.

Energy-saving tips
Unplug your PC when not in use, and don't forget the scanner, monitor, printer, broadband box and audio speakers all need turning off too. Use your computer's energy-saving mode: you should be able to turn the brightness of the screen down, or set it to turn off if you haven't used it for 5-10 minutes.

Information provided by Friends of the Earth.

Remember if you buy a cheap laptop, there is a reason! its not sustainable or recyclable and toxic! Choose right.

Environmental status report

The new 13-inch MacBook embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

• Arsenic-free glass
• Brominated flame retardant-free
• Mercury-free

• PVC-free
• 41% smaller packaging
• Highly recyclable aluminium and glass enclosures

Apple is most proud of what isn't in MacBook.

What’s common in other notebooks is conspicuously missing in the new MacBook. Take for example, mercury used in CCFL backlights and arsenic contained in the glass of traditional LCD displays. Apple engineers have said no to both of these substances. They’ve chosen LED technology and arsenic-free glass. They’ve also said no to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in logic boards, and PVC in cables and connectors. In fact, Apple has done more than remove these toxins from the new MacBook. They’ve done the same thing for the rest of the new MacBook family, the LED Cinema Display, every single iPod and the iPhone. Sometimes saying no is a good thing.

http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/environment.html

Save Energy, Cut Carbon, Save Cash!

We've found this week's great list from BigGreenSwitch.co.uk

Oh dear... we are amongst the most energy wasteful people in Europe according to a recent survey by the EST. 71% of us regularly leave appliances on standby unnecessarily while 67% boil more water than needed in the kettle. In total, the energy we waste as a nation each year is now growing close to the equivalent of powering an additional 7 million non-existent homes! If everyone were to take just a few simple steps to curb our energy wastage, we could have a dramatic effect on cutting the UK's carbon emissions while, at the same time, all saving ourselves a small fortune in energy bills. Do a little, save a lot!

• Don't leave appliances on standby

• Keep your fridge and freezer full

• Only boil as much water as you need

• Turn your thermostat down by 1oC

• Wash your laundry at lower temperatures

• Switch off lights when a room is not in use

• Use the washing line instead of the tumble dryer

• Unplug chargers and power supplies when not in use

• Shower instead of bathing

• Only use the washing machine when you have a full load to wash

• Defrost your freezer regularly to keep it running at top performance

If we can do just a number of the above, it will make a big difference! Many of the ideas above you'll see in Birchway's Green Charter. More information to follow soon.

Finding your perfect architect

If you've put off using an architect because of the cost, or fear you'll be ridiculed, check out our guide to affordable, approachable professionals.

Why go to an architect?
Architects cut stress and mistakes by:

Finding the right builders for the job – don't underestimate the valu

e of this!

Suggesting materials you or your builder wouldn't know about or have considered.

Translating your ideas and anxieties into practical solutions, often finding space and light where you didn't think possible.

Guiding you th

rough the dull bits like the regulations and contractual obligations you need to deal with.

New build house in East Dulwich progress

New build house in East Dulwich progress

03 Dec 2008 - Timber frame construction well placed for 2009

What does 2009 hold for the housebuilding industry and for the timber frame
sector, one of the UK's most glittering manufacturing success stories of recent
years?

Geoff Arnold, the incoming chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA),
says:

“Despite the depressed housing market, we are continuing to see relatively strong
demand for timber frame across all market sectors. We expect that the continue
next year. Obviously it will be sometime before we return to previous demand
levels; however, what is already clear is that the Code for Sustainable Homes
is still on everyone’s mind, and timber frame will be the build technology of
choice to deliver energy efficient homes both cost effectively and quickly.

"In 2009, the key for all developers will be market responsiveness. As funding
becomes available on a given scheme, whether in the public or private sector,
what will be critical is a developer’s ability to respond and build out the site.
Timber frame has proven time and time again that where build speed, performance
and energy efficiency are required, it can offer significant advantages over other
methods of build.

“We therefore see the percentage of timber frame homes increasing from 22.1%
in 2007 to well over 25% in 2009 even possibly achieving 30%. Furthermore, these
figures could be pushed higher as the Code for Sustainable Homes requirements
become better understood by developers. It is far easier to attain higher levels
of Code using timber frame than other build methods. Consumers then benefit from
a very comfortable home with small fuel bills.”

The UKTFA offers these top 10 tips to future-focused housebuilders and social
housing developers with an eye on the bottom line in 2009:

hit title above to view tips...

Download Article

Timber Frame Will Triumph

"These economic advantages come at the same time as regulatory changes that will hit masonry construction hard, but that are negligible to us. New energy efficiency regulations for the construction of new homes being introduced from 1 April 2006 can be achieved with a simple, highly insulated timber frame solution that is already standard across our industry. This means more timber frame homes that use less energy to run, which is a benefit to home buyers that will continue to increase in importance as domestic fuel bills rise.

"We are nowhere near as dependent upon expensive fossil fuels. In fact, 77% of the energy used in the production of wood products in the UK comes from wood residues and recovered wood. Through recycling our own waste we help to keep our manufacturing costs and environmental impact as low as possible.

- Open panel timber frame construction in England and Wales currently costs GBP798 per square metre, compared to GBP799 per square metre for traditional brick and block construction;

- Timber frame construction (both open and closed panel systems) requires 20% fewer on-site labour days than masonry construction, and ensures a significantly faster construction period overall;

- Timber frame homes are weathertight in almost half the time, leading to important quality, efficiency and health and safety benefits;

- The cost of snagging timber frame homes is a third less than for brick and block homes;

- There are no high risks associated with open panel timber frame, compared to traditional construction which is perceived to be at high risk of price fluctuations, delays due to bad weather, lack of key trade skills, service installation faults, health and safety hazards, construction errors and other defects at handover;

- Multi-storey buildings favour modern methods of construction like timber frame because the costs of complying with stringent building regulations for high-rise buildings increase faster for brick and block construction than for off-site manufactured elements;

- Timber frame systems are also particularly suited to brownfield sites with poor soil conditions (sites that favour lighter buildings), and sites with restricted access.

Tender prices drop as competition for work rises

Tender price index reveals price of new work fell 2%, with BCIS predicting further 8% fallse 7.7% and wages 4.8%

Rising competition for work has lead to a fall in tender prices, data published today has revealed.
The latest tender price index, complied by the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) of the RICS, showed new orders for construction work fell by 8% between the third and fourth quarter of 2008, and 28% from the previous year. In line with this, the price of new construction work fell by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with the previous quarter. The BCIS has predicted a further 8% fall over the course of the year.
Meanwhile, costs are going against the falling inflation trend, with an annual rise of 7.7% for materials and 4.8% for wage rates.

27 April, 2009
By Sophie Griffiths

Camden house update

3d modeling to explore the massing and cladding possibilities.

Watford Chamber of commerce Event

YOOP Architects attended a breakfast event on the 17 April at the new Jury Inn Hotel in Watford. Organized by the Watford Chamber of Commerce, the guest speaker was Mindy Gibbins-Klein. Mindy Gibbins-Klein is an international speaker, consultant and trainer who helps top business leaders get their wisdom into the market by refining their unique message and planning, writing and publishing excellent books articles, blogs, video and keynotes. Her clients have published over 100 books and hundreds of articles. She is a popular speaker who consistently gets superb feedback from audiences that enjoy her warm yet no-nonsense approach.
Mindy presented, "How to Be a REAL Thought Leader" How entrepreneurs can position themselves to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

Mindy presented a four point approach based around the easy to remember R (reach), E (engage), A (authority), L (longevity). This was a good boost for confidence and also to focus on the common sense things to do that we sometimes forget. Also how book publishing can be a good way to become an 'authority' in your sector. We like Mindy's company name of 'bookmidwife' (www.bookmidwife.com) We also met some new business contacts and were able to discuss opportunities in the current market. Support and swapping contacts and ideas was great. We look forward to attending future Watford Chamber of commerce events and catch up with the good people we have met and meet more people in our business community.

Yoop
http://www.jurysinns.com/Watfordnowopen

chick inn

A new chicken grill restaurant in Wandsworth, South London.

Net Curtain House

A new house, traditional but contemporary. Traditional net curtains protect privacy while affording views and light, this is manifested in a contemporary way by using custom water cut screens to put the net curtains on the outside of the house as cladding.

Mortgage approvals up 4%

Forecasts remain unchanged as February figures show no increase in total loan value despite increase in approvals

The number of mortgages approved by lenders in February was 4% higher than the previous month at 24,300, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
However the total value of all the loans approved - £3.1bn - was exactly the same as in January, and the number of loans approved was still only at just over half the level of February the previous year.
The CML said that despite the small rise, activity level remained very weak, with the 24,300 figure less than one third the historical average of 76,000 between 2002 and 2007.
February saw 9,400 loans for first-time buyers, an increase of 7% on January but a 46% fall since February 2008.
The CML said that for those able to get home loans, housing was now more affordable than at any time since 2004, with mortgage interest payments now consuming an average of 15.4% of a first-time buyer's income. This is down from a peak of 20.1% in February 2008.
Michael Coogan, CML director general, said that despite the growth, he was not convinced that underlying trends had shifted sufficiently to change the CML's forecasts for mortgage market activity in 2009, despite positive signs for later in the year. “We need further market measures to be introduced by the government to encourage a mortgage market where all types of lenders - banks, building societies and specialist lenders, and large and small businesses - are encouraged, and enabled, to commit more funds to the mortgage market."

14 April, 2009
By Joey Gardiner
http://www.building.co.uk

Ten tips for would-be landlords (clickable link)

If your house won't sell, how easy is it to rent?

You need to move but do not want to put your home on the market: after all, there could scarcely be a worse time to sell. The obvious solution is to let your home. If you are about to join the influx of reluctant landlords with unrealistic expectations and no idea about tenants' rights, follow this guide:

1 Study the local market
2 Talk to your lender
3 Do your sums ..
4 ...and try to be realistic
5 Head must rule the heart
6 Think about your tenants
7 Spend some money on it
8 Follow the rules
9 Pick tenants with care...
10 ... or pay a lettings agent

From The Times

July 25, 2008 Paula Hawkins

Always vet and get references for tenants.
Don't let tenants pay rent late.
Don't use agents (unless they can get a higher rent).
Expect to be inconvenienced.
Don't get personal about the property, it's a business.
Don't forget what you're doing it all for, eventually you'll own the place.

New Build House in Caribbean

For UK client with plot in Caribbean,
with special help from Yoop friend and
architect in Barbados.