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If you are already a landlord and you are looking to scale your portfolio, or you are considering beginning your property adventure in the near future, there are a few things you simply MUST understand.

Despite what you might hear on the news or social media, the margins in property can be remarkably tight and a few poor decisions here and there and things can go very wrong, very quickly.

Here are our top tips for building a successful property portfolio:

Find the right properties

Easy right! Property selection really is the most important thing for a new investor, especially if you are looking to build a portfolio of similar properties that work for you time and time again.

It can be tempting to look for huge bargains on the market that require significant renovation and the largest potential value increase, but this is not always the best option.

Sure, if you get it right, the returns are certainly there to be had, but you need to be 100% confident that you have the budget, contacts, and money to do the job properly.

A property that has already been done up, might cost you a little more at the outset, but all sorts of potential issues, such as modern energy efficiency compliance and up to date electrical system installation have already been taken care of.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to your own personal skills and experience and how much time and effort you want to put into renovation. And budget of course!

Remember Security!

Nothing threatens the future of your property empire than poor security. Arson, vandalism, and theft will swiftly destroy your profit margin when renovating a property and can make getting insurance for future projects a complete nightmare.

Vacant property insurance in particular is something that you will need to learn all about if you are considering getting into the world of property as the chances that your property will be constantly occupied is pretty slim.

Click here to learn more about protecting a vacant property from a company that specialises in unique CCTV and monitored alarm systems.

Get Advice

Never underestimate the power of professional advice. If you are not particularly mathematically minded, it is vital that you have a professional accountant and solicitor examine your plans before you carry them out.

You should also consult with successful property renovators and other landlords before taking on any project. Who better to warn you against the potential pitfalls and mistakes made by first time landlords than those who have already made and overcome the mistakes you are looking to avoid?

Find the perfect tenant

A great tenant makes property management so much easier. The risk of property damage and expensive repairs falls dramatically and you will be made aware of potential issues at the earliest opportunity.

Many landlords have fantastic relationships with tenants lasting many years, making property ownership as stress-free as it possibly can be given the circumstances.

Under new guidance published following the Grenfell tower fire, high-rise buildings should switch from a stay-put evacuation strategy to a simultaneous evacuation policy until any flammable materials have been replaced.

To facilitate this, either a common fire alarm system or a waking watch service must be put in place, but which is best, and what approach should you take in your own property?

Temporary fix

The first thing to note when thinking about either a common fire alarm or a waking watch service is that both are only ever supposed to be used as a temporary option until proper remediation work is done to remove unsuitable aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding.

Unfortunately, a lack of available funding and action to match the promises made following Grenfell has left many high-rise residents stuck paying for these services for far longer than was ever intended.

As a result, landlords, residents, and building managers have been stuck in the difficult position of deciding between these temporary solutions, without any clear deadline as to when they can be removed.

Luckily, both common fire alarms and waking watch services can be highly effective at protecting a property against fire in the meantime, and this blog will help you decide exactly which option is best for you.

What is Waking Watch?

A waking watch service involves trained fire marshals continually patrolling a building 24 hours a day looking for signs of a fire.

Their main responsibility is to ensure that in the event of a fire, all residents are alerted as quickly as possible and the evacuation strategy in place is carried out.

When conducted by qualified and highly trained waking watch officers, waking watch is incredibly effective in reducing the risk of fire and protecting residents from harm.

Every 15 minutes, at most, officers will conduct a full patrol of the entire premises, including all interior floors and the exterior of the building, looking for any signs of a fire outbreak or hazards that could pose a future issue.

If a fire is detected, they will immediately alert the emergency services, liaise with them once they arrive, and oversee the evacuation of the property.

Originally, waking watch was only ever recommended as a temporary solution although in many instances the arrangement has been in place for several years now, waiting for the promise of remediation work to come to fruition.

The more buildings that get discovered to have flammable cladding installed the worst this problem becomes as the funding available to resolve these issues is stretched even thinner.

This has left residents footing a bill for a service that is required as no fault of their own with service charges rising by as much as £800 in some situations.

What are the alternatives?

The longer time passes without any sign of construction work being carried out, the less cost-effective waking watch becomes.

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) if a switch to a simultaneous evacuation strategy is required and it is expected to be in place for a medium or long period of time, a common fire alarm should be installed to replace the waking watch service currently in place.

This is due to the fact that a temporary fire alarm is a far more affordable option that offers all the same advantages of Waking Watch Fire Marshals without the requirement for a 24/7 manned presence on the site.

Fire alarm systems

In 2020, the Government introduced the Waking Watch Relief Fund to help ease the financial pressure on residents.

This fund, which totalled around £30m, was available to help cover the installation costs of common alarm systems in affected buildings.

Common fire alarm systems involved smoke detectors being placed in every single apartment and communal area throughout the entire property that are all linked together and managed from a central control panel.

If a single detector is activated, alarms will sound throughout the entire building, allowing for a simultaneous evacuation even faster than would be possible through waking watch.

Furthermore, these systems are connected directly to the emergency services, allowing the fastest possible response by the fire brigade.

It is estimated that in just 6-8 weeks, the investment in a common fire alarm system will have paid for itself in savings made by removing waking watch, without ever compromising on the safety of those within the building.

What happens after cladding is replaced?

Once the flammable cladding has been replaced, buildings are advised to return to a stay-put evacuation strategy, with residents waiting inside their apartments until the fire service tells them to leave.

Industry leading common fire alarm systems such as those fitted by Prime Secure, can easily by transformed into standard fire alarm systems once this time comes, saving you money on expensive removal and installation costs.

If you are considering a divorce, then it’s likely you’ll need the assistance of a properly accredited family solicitor.

Family law firms are specialists when it comes to law that relates to,

• Financial settlements
• Child arrangements
• Divorce

But how do you choose the right family law firm? In this article we’ll discuss important details to consider when choosing a family law firm, and just why it is so important to get an expert family solicitor.

Why is it important to get a divorce or family solicitor?

A family lawyer is qualified in all aspects of family law; if you’re interested in separation or a divorce, getting the advice of a family lawyer is sensible, since they can give you an idea of what kind of problems you may encounter and what you might have to prepare for soon.

Even if you can secure an amicable arrangement with your spouse and want to avoid having to go to court, a solicitor is still very important. They can check over any agreements you’ve made and ensure that the paperwork is legally binding.

Even if you can’t afford a solicitor for the whole process, the advice they can initially provide you with is often vital for understanding the position you find yourself in and how the divorce procedure works. You may also take the approach of employing a solicitor only for select parts of the divorce process.           

In a divorce there are two key parties. The applicant and the respondent.

The applicant applies for the divorce. Lawyers Clarkston area in this case will help you to complete the paperwork and avoid any potential delays – saving you a huge amount of time and stress.

The respondent on the other hand receives the divorce application.

It is entirely possible for both spouses to make a joint application for divorce.

If you enlist a divorce solicitor, they can provide a wide range of services to you. They will,

• Help you fully understand how the process of divorce works, offering advice and information so you know exactly what’s happening at each stage
• Look after all your interests; if you find your divorce is being contested, you are going to need a professional to back you up
• Help formulate an amicable agreement; a divorce solicitor can provide you with alternative strategies, advocate for mediation, or try and find another collaborative method
• Represent you in the court if the case gets that far

Speaking to multiple lawyers and firms

It can be very important to ‘shop around’ – look through multiple firms before you make any kind of decision on who to go with. This is vital because it’ll help you ensure you get the best outcome – since not all firms are experienced in the issues you will be dealing with. Because of this, it’s important to look for the following in a firm,

• Do they have proper experience handling the issues you are facing?
• Are they experienced in family law? How long have they been practicing?
• Who are the clients they usually represent?
• What is their typical approach for the situation you are in?
• Who will be responsible for the case?

Many firms provide a free initial consolation to give you an idea of the service they provide, but also provide you an opportunity to get a better grip on the case. This consultation will give you an idea of what rights and responsibilities you possess, the status of your children, the nature of financial settlement, and how the divorce process works. You will also be able to speak with a solicitor – and this can allow you to develop an initial rapport. This is important, as you will have to have a good relationship with any solicitor you choose to go with.

Do I need a good relationship with my solicitor?

It’s very important you develop a good relationship with your solicitor. You want to know a solicitor has your best interests in mind and that you are comfortable working with them.

When you get a solicitor, you’ll be discussing very sensitive issues – so it is vital that you are comfortable talking with them about issues including your children, your finances, and anything else directly related to the divorce. Because of this, it’s very important you maintain a consistent and clear line of communication with the family lawyer, so they fully understand exactly what you need. If you aren’t regularly updated on the important issues, it’s possible you will not get the results you’re looking for.

It is also very important you listen closely to your solicitor – the expert information they are providing you is important for ensuring you get the results you want from the case.

In the internet age, with selfies video calls, and social media profiles being a major part of our lives, we spend more time than ever looking at our own faces.

This can lead to examining every wrinkle and age line in minute detail and many of us are increasingly looking for ways to become happier with the way we look.

There are any number of anti-aging products currently on the market in the form of moisturiser, anti-wrinkle cream etc. but for those serious about making lasting changes, facial injectables may be the answer.

If you have done any sort of research into wrinkle removal and cosmetic anti-aging procedures, you will have heard of Botox and dermal fillers, but it can be quite confusing working out what exactly the difference is.

They are both injected into the face and are hugely effective at removing signs of wrinkles but are actually quite different in the way they work and the areas they target.

Luckily, we are here to help, and this article will tell you everything you need to know about the differences between both methods including price, procedure, how long they last, and the potential side effects.

What is Botox?

You probably know what Botox does, but what about what it is?

Botox, or Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin that reduces wrinkling by paralyzing the muscle that is responsible for the pulling of nearby skin.

By nerve blocking the muscle, there will be reduced movement in the skin nearby meaning that when you make a facial expression such as smiling or frowning, that area will not be pulled tight, reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles as a result.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers help to smooth sagging skin by replacing lost volume and giving your cheeks, lips, or jowls a plumper appearance.

Dermal fillers come in two main types, each of which comes in various consistencies and viscosities. These are those made of hyaluronic acid (HA) and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA).

Given that there are so many different variations of dermal fillers, it is critical that you use a professional injector who is extremely experienced and understand the anatomy of the human face and the components of the products being used.

What is the difference between dermal fillers and Botox?

The biggest difference between these two cosmetic products is that Botox targets dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement in the face, fillers tackle stationary skin folds visible when the face is at rest by correcting sagging creases and folds.

How to pick between fillers and Botox?

Deciding which product is best suited to your needs is a conversation for you to have with your doctor and really depends on what areas of the face that you are looking to target.

This is just a quick overview of where each product is most generally most effective:

Forehead

In general, Botox Glasgow is hugely effective at dealing with forehead crinkles, especially if the process is started before the lines have become etched into the skin and are still a result of dynamic movement.

If the target area is very close to the eyebrow, however, Botox may not be a great idea as it could cause eyebrow drooping if the muscles used for lifting your brows are impacted.

Cheeks

Dermal Filler is the best method to improve the shape of your cheeks, lifting them up and highlighting the contours of your cheekbones.

Botox will not provide the same lifting effect or tighten skin meaning that filler is a much better option if you are dealing with sagging skin in this area.

Lips

Both Botox and dermal fillers can be useful in relation to lips depending on what you are looking to achieve.

Fillers are a great way to give your lips volume and provide hydration, whilst Botox can help you achieve a lip flip effect by relaxing the muscle around the mouth.

If using Botox near the lips, it is essential that you use an expert experienced injector as too much near your lips can cause drooling and affect your ability to speak.

Eyes

Again, Botox and fillers can both have a positive effect on the eye area.

Botox is fantastic for dealing with crow’s feet, whilst filler is much better at filling out the tear trough and reducing the dark shadows and hollow appearance of your eyes.

Are There Side Effects?

Botox and dermal fillers are the two safest cosmetic procedures that you can have.

However, like any injectable, there are some possible side effects to be aware of.

Some of the possible side effects include:

• Pain during procedure – There will be a small sharp prick when the needle is inserted.
• Bruising and swelling around the injection site.
• Uneven results
• Headaches

Contact Luxe Skin Today

For more information, or to book your Botox or filler appointment today, contact Luxe Skin on 0141 573 1473, or via email at info@luxeskin.co.uk.