My Office Decor & Styling Fairy Lights

When I moved into my house I knew that I wanted to convert the spare room into an office area where I could also do some blogging. The room was painted a mint green colour when we moved in and had a blue carpet. It was used as a reading room I suppose, complete with bookshelf and rocking chair – which was still there when we moved in! When we had the electrics rewired in this room, we added an extra plug as we knew we both wanted to have our computers in here (or laptop in my case). This was really handy as it allowed us to set up our own computer areas at each side of the room. We painted the entire room white which is a great backdrop for my blog photos. There was a cupboard in this room which we wanted to utilise this space for some storage and at first I wasn’t sure what to do with it so it became a bit of a junk storage place.

Before Photo - Courtesy of Rightmove.

James very kindly surprised me on my birthday by sorting this room for me and buying me some great furniture and accessories. Firstly, he took the doors off the cupboard and replaced them with some sheer curtains which he popped onto a copper pipe for me, matching the theme of the room. Inside the cupboard which was bare, he added some shelving which he painted with a copper edge and a book case. Inside I have popped some of my books and some of my blog items. He also added a copper clock to the wall to really tie the colours in together.

My desks are from IKEA. I have one which I put my laptop on for when I am writing blog posts, and the other I use for taking my photos. This has been topped with some Marble fablon which you have probably seen in the background off all of my photos. I have a chair that I got from IKEA as well and on this chair is a gorgeous cushion that James bought me from B&Q.

Under my desks I have some more storage units which I have filled with craft supplies. He also decorated these for me in copper and marble to fit in with the theme of the room. I also have a light curtain which is great for the winter when I want to add some pretty bokeh to the background of any shots I take.

I love having fairy lights in this room as it makes for a really relaxing environment. If you're looking for your own light curtain, then be sure to check out Festive Lights. They have an amazing range of lights in every style imaginable. I am thinking of getting these adorable Unicorn Fairy Lights as I think they will really go with the relaxed decor in this room. They are also perfect for Children's rooms and nurseries so will be a great transitional piece once this room becomes a bedroom one day! 

Imagery provided by Festive Lights

On the floor, we have used the offcuts from the bedroom carpet just so there is something soft to put your feet onto. I also have a sheepskin rug that I pop down now and again, or failing that it hangs off my chair. James also has his side of the room sorted with his desk, massive computer screen, chair, shelving and art supplies.

I have not had the ceiling or coving done in here, but will be something that I do if I ever change this room around as well as replace the floor to a complete one. I love this room now it has been organised properly and it’s a great space for me to work on my blog posts. I would eventually like some curtains or a blind in here but for now, it’s just right. For a room that we haven’t really put a lot of time or money into I think it works well, and can stay this way for the foreseeable future as we have more important rooms to focus on next (the living room!)

Do you have any room before/after’s to share? Can you recommend any other fairy light hacks like these ones that I could add to this room?

Find the post about my bedroom makeover here.

Our Bedroom - Before and After

The bedroom is the room where the magic happens – and by that I mean transforming myself from an egg with eyebrows in the morning to a reasonably presented person. This room was fairly easy to work with. We had a full electric rewire when we moved in which did mess up the walls and floor but it wasn’t wallpapered so the walls just needed patching up where the electrician had been and the carpet once again needed taking up. It was hard to picture where to lay things out in this room because it didn’t have a double bed in it when we viewed the house but we made things fit in the end.

We painted all the ‘white’ areas to freshen them up and decided to go with a relaxing Dulux Sugared Lilac colour for the walls. We hadn’t considered wallpapering this room but on a random visit to B&Q, James spotted this lilac and white striped wallpaper which we thought would go really well and just break the colours up a bit. My dad and step-mum very kindly added this to the back wall for us then we placed our bed in the middle. Ideally we will eventually get a new bed in white to match the rest of the room but there are other priorities for the money at the moment!

To really finish the decorating off we had the ceiling skimmed and coving added, which is something we will slowly do room by room I hope. We had a professional decorator do this for us and it was done within a couple of days which saved us the stress and hassle. We also had the ceiling lights centred to the middle of the room so by having the ceiling skimmed this hid the unsightly hole where the previous light fitting hung.

We decided to go for carpet in this room which we chose and had installed by Whittaker Carpets. I was so happy to finally get carpet after constantly having to deal with cold chipboard! We wanted to break the purple up in the room with a dark cream/light brown colour. We chose a blind for this room in the colour ‘Hessian Biscuit’ from Dunelm which was just what we wanted then chose a similar colour carpet to tie it all in.

We bought our bedside tables from the MALM range at IKEA. They were only £29 each and do the job, it’s somewhere to put our phones on charge at the end of the day. My dressing table is also from IKEA and is the Alex/Liatorp one. I also have matching Alex drawers on the other side of the room filled with make-up and beauty items. I also bought the stool from Ikea and the mirror was a car boot find for £4! Finishing touches included these table lamps from Wilko, the duvet set from Primark (VelvetGh0st range) and our prints on the wall to tie all of the bedroom colours in. James bought us the lilac lamps from Wilko and they suit the room really well I think!

Our wardrobes were measured, fitted and installed by Norfolk Value Kitchens who can also provide bedroom furniture. By having them fitted we could get them the right size to fit the space available. The doors also come with a stable door on the bottom half, this means we can open the top half of the wardrobe and it doesn’t get in the way of the bedside tables. There were many doors to choose from and we thought these ones fit in well with the rest of the décor without being too plain.

Overall I am really happy with how this room turned out. From seeing it with the floor ripped out and holes all over the walls transformed into a cosy room has been a long old process but I am really happy with it. One room down, a lot more to go!

My Little Friday Night Box

When My Little Box arrived this month, I ripped it open in anticipation to discover the box theme was Friday Night. Conveniently, my box arrived on a Friday so I had no problem in opening it up there and then and seeing what was inside. I was greeted with a colourful array of goodies as you can see!

As usual, we received the small linen bag. I do really like these, I use them for everything and they really do come in handy. I have one in my bag with my phone charger in, another with medicines and plasters and they’re great to pop my phone in at the gym so that I can hang it off the machines rather than trying to balance it on the small platforms available. (The joys of having an iPhone 7 plus!). We also received a little print as we usually do and a little booklet too which came in an envelope with some cocktail recipes and an invite to pass on to someone for a dinner party.

I really like the packaging on this body cream that I received. I haven’t seen many other people get this in their box. It is a really nice item and handy to pop on your body to moisturise any dry areas before hitting the town. I haven’t heard of this brand before but would like to see what else they have to offer.

It took me a moment to realise what this item was exactly however it is in fact a Black Bow Tie Bra Accessory. I have never seen anything like this before on the market, although I am sure there are similar items available. This bow is designed to slip onto the back of your bra meaning it doesn’t matter if you have a backless dress or top on. I personally do not own anything backless, maybe because I don’t want my bra strap on show who knows! I do think this is quite a unique item and I do like it, I will definitely keep it for those times when I need it. Any suggestions on how else I can use it? I was thinking a hair accessory would also look pretty cute or maybe slipping it onto a dog collar?

I really like the My Little Beauty Eye Pencil and Smudger in black. This pencil is very pigmented, goes on smooth and dries matte. It stays put all day. The smudger works well to blend out a smoky eye which works great for a Friday night out on the town.

This Gold Triangle Hair Pin was another one of the lifestyle pieces we received in this month’s box. I really like this item despite not yet having a chance to use it. I think it’s a nice item which will jazz up any hairstyle. Triangles were ‘in’ a while back so it’s nice to see they are sticking to trends. The hair pin is easy to use and feels pretty strong. You can use this in a variety of hairstyles or more importantly to get that hair away from your face when dancing the night away on a Friday!

The nail varnish in this month’s box was a bit of a disappointment if I’m honest when comparing this to what other people got. The colour is a dark taupe, something that doesn’t resonate with a Friday night to me. The brand is Nailmatic, one I am not familiar with. I would have expected something a bit more glittery or bright for the summer. This is not something I would wear this time of year but I will pop it in my drawer and keep it safe for autumn. 

The final lifestyle item we received were this pack of four cork coasters with a colourful design on them. They don’t really match the décor of my house but will be good for a backup when I do happen to be having Friday Night drinks and need some extra coasters to go around. The quality feels nice. I think I will keep these in my office for now to brighten the room up a bit, but the fact they have ‘My Little Box’ branded all over them means they won’t become part of my regular homewares. 

Overall this box was OK – I wasn’t blown away by the contents and think they could have made the theme a little better. I am coming up to my year anniversary of getting this box so hope they can bring something out of the bag this month to keep me committed! What do you think?

Make Life Easier With Bidvine*

Since moving into my house I have needed a lot of work doing and have struggled to get recommendations from friends for trusted tradesmen. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start when looking for people to do odd jobs around the home. When I heard about a website called Bidvine, all of my frustrations were resolved. Bidvine is not only a website for finding handy men, it is also the easiest way to find professionals from fashion photographers to painters and decorators and even yoga instructors.

Photo provided by Bidvine.

So I am sure you are wondering how Bidvine works? Firstly head over to the Bidvine website and tell them what it is you are looking for. This can be anything from a plasterer to a masseuse, whatever you need. It is very clear from the webpage where you need to type in this information. You then have to simply type in your postcode. The website then asks you a series of service-specific questions relating to what you first put in so for example Plastering Services, they may ask what size area needs plastering and so on. Once you have filled in all of the information, you can then create an account. Your job request is then sent to qualified people who will then ‘bid’ to carry out the services. They will tell you what they can offer and for how much, you can then select who you want to go with.

Professionals have up to 4 days to contact you with a bid but you should expect to get your first bids within hours. Depending on the nature of the job and the level of detail you have entered will all depend on the amount of bids you will receive but you will usually get 2 pros expressing their interest. Professionals using the site pay a small fee to send you a custom bid so all Bidvine ask is that you respond to everyone respecting their hard work and time. The fact that pros have to pay means you really do get dedicated people who really want to help you out on there.

After you have received your required service you can then add a review. Other people browsing the site will rely on reviews in order to make their decisions regardless of what type of experience you have had. Another thing to note is that Bidvine share the answers that you provide to the service-specific questions, your general location, and your phone number if you have asked them to. They don't share your email.

Photo provided by Bidvine

Bidvine really takes away the pressures of trying to find a professional. Once your information has been submitted you simply sit and wait for the bids to come in. You can then decide who you want to work with dependent on your budget and what quality of service you are after. Some of the other services offered on the site include, photography, language lessons, music lessons, painting, house clearances, fitness and wellbeing.

Will you be using Bidvine?

*Sponsored Post.

Pet Cleanliness in the Home feat. BISSELL*

Having previously never had my own house, I never really worried about cleanliness. This was something that was always left to my parents but since moving out and being a pet owner, I have really come to notice how much things really need cleaning. Biscuit is a fluffy cat so I am often left with his fluff and fur all over the carpets, as well as mud and whatever else he brings through his cat-flap. Luckily he does not go to the toilet indoors but he is a messy eater so there is always that to contend with too!

I first noticed what a difference Biscuit made when he moved in. We had gotten away with cleaning less often before he arrived but as soon as he moved in it was apparent that we needed to keep on top of the cleaning more. Some research has been done into the cleaning habits of pet owners and the importance of ensuring a deep clean to keep you and your family members safe. Dr Pixie Mckenna has teamed up with carpet cleaning experts BISSELL and I have been sent the following Q&A which outlines the importance of cleaning up after pets. I thought  it was really interesting and wanted to share it with you all. The Q&A dispels common myths and if you are a pet owner, I definitely recommend giving it a good read!

What germs, bacteria and other nasties do dogs and cats most commonly bring in to the home?
Not all germs carried by household pets can impact humans however, there are a number that do. These can be transmitted through a bite, scratch or more commonly though contact with a pet’s saliva, dander (dead skin cells) or waste. For instance, bacterial infections like Campylobacter can be spread through animal faeces and can cause stomach pain and upset, Toxoplasmosis a parasitic infection that is often hosted in cat litter and can cause symptoms from fevers to a sore throat and rash, or the fungal skin infection ringworm which manifests as a red, ring shaped rash.
It’s really shocking to hear that recent research by BISSELL* revealed that a fifth of pet owners don’t wash their carpets especially as 25% admitted to regularly having to clean up urine, vomit and faeces. We’re a nation of animals lovers and enjoy having our pets around the home, however it’s crucial that if our pets make a mess we clean it thoroughly to avoid making family members poorly, especially small children who use the floor as their playground.

How are these germs, bacteria and other nasties transferred to humans? Are these things harmful to humans and our furry friends? 

Just as it is with humans, any form of animal contact such as scratches, licks, kisses and even cuddles can result in the spread of infection. Whilst most such as ringworm are mild,  in both humans and pets they can prove very serious in certain circumstances. 

The parasite Toxocara, for example, is commonly found in the intestines of kittens and puppies and can be spread through animal faeces. Although symptoms such as stomach pain and upset tend to be mild, it can lead to pneumonia and liver problems with blindness occurring in very severe cases – something many of us are warned about when young.

What sort of bacteria and nasties can live in pet mess, saliva etc, and what sort of health issues can humans suffer from if they come in to contact with it/ingest it? 

There are numerous infections ranging from bacterial to fungal and parasitic infections. These include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasmosis, Toxocariasis and Ringworm. Symptoms can include flu like symptoms, skin rashes, badly behaving bowels and general malaise.

How should the cleaning routine of pet owners vs non-pet owners differ, in terms of what is cleaned, how frequently and how deeply? 

You can never be too clean but pet owners need to go above and beyond to ensure that soft furnishings as well as the floors don’t just look clean but actually are. Recent research by BISSELL revealed that one in ten pet owning Brits* never wash their sofa covers whilst one fifth never wash their carpets. With these being two of the most popular places for pets and family to relax, it’s important they aren’t forgotten during the weekly clean as it will help to tackle unsightly stains, offensive smells and at worst, eliminate the chance of ill health.

How can pet owners ensure nothing nasty is left behind when cleaning up pet mess like urine, vomit and faeces? 

Although an area may look clean it doesn’t mean that nasty bacteria aren’t lurking beneath the surface. It's not good enough to simply remove the sight and smell of a pet accident. To ensure bacteria and germs are removed you need to carry out a deep clean with a specialist product if you want to avoid the risk of you and your family becoming ill. If you have small children playing on the floor, parasites that live in pet faeces can come into contact with hands, mouths and eyes leading to nasty health implications for your little ones.

What sort of bacteria can lurk in the carpets/beds that pets regularly sleep on and what are the implications for humans if we come in to contact/ingest? 

We call the infections animals spread to humans Zoonosis. This may surprise you but bedding down with your four legged friend can cause infections as serious as the bubonic plague – but don’t panic, it's incredibly rare! MRSA, worms, bacteria which cause tummy bugs, viruses which can affect everything from your eye sight to your liver...the list is endless. So although you love your pet and want to spend time with them you really shouldn’t let them in your bed.

What has been your biggest ever pet disaster and what did you do?
My dog once weed all over a brand new pair of shoes whilst I was sat having lunch in a restaurant! I was absolutely mortified and had to sit through the rest of lunch with a pair of very soggy shoes!

How have your personal experiences of owning a dog affected the wellbeing of and the way that you look after your family? 
I caught a Gastro bug early on in my puppy career and since then I have become hugely mindful of safeguarding my family against cross infection. Our dog isn’t allowed upstairs and I am constantly on poo watch! I paid the price early on with contaminated sofas so she now has certain ‘no go’ zones in our home. I love my dog and she has a hugely positive influence on our family but I’m also aware that sometimes, they can carry infections which they can pass on to us so I take practical measures to safeguard my family against ill health.

What would you say to pet owners who might not think their pets could bring ‘nasties’ into their home or happily kiss and share their bed with them?

Pets shouldn’t be allowed in their owner’s bed and instead should have a comfy place of their own to sleep. Just as we humans carry germs, pets can too and inviting them to share your bed can put you at risk of anything from a bacteria or parasitic infection to a virus. If you suffer from allergies these too can be triggered or worsened by contact not just with pet hair but also with their saliva and waste. Of course as a nation of pet lovers many will happily share their bed and enjoy being greeted by a slobbery kiss. However, with that territory should come a realisation that pets are not sterile, and as cute as they are, they can be the potential source of ill health. So we should take as many precautions as necessary to maintain a deep and meaningful relationship with our pets without challenging our health.

If you suffer with pet allergies, how can you help reduce allergy symptoms? 

If you suffer from allergies it is essential to deep clean carpets, drapes, soft furnishings, and bedding unless you want to worsen your sneezing, wheezing or skin condition. This should be a regular household job. Pet hair, dust and dirt can all trigger reactions so it is essential to do this regularly. Remember, it's the stuff you can't see that gives rise to symptoms so looking clean just simply is not enough.

BISSELL are experts in floor care and have the products to solve your pet mess and stain disasters – small or large, smelly or unsightly, wet or dry. So, whether you need to clean up pet hair, a little accident or spilt food and drink, BISSELL has the answers. 

I hope you have found this Q&A as interesting as I did. If you can relate to any of the points outlined above, I would recommend checking out BISSELL for yourselves.

Buying a House – Exchange and Completion

This is the 4th and final part in my house buying series and follows on from ‘Solicitors and Surveys’. Once all the paperwork is complete you are now ready to exchange contracts. Once you have exchanged you are legally bound to buying the house and the seller legally has to sell it to you. You cannot pull out of this without incurring major costs and potentially losing your deposit. We exchanged 14 weeks after putting in our offer but I have no idea what the average timescale is, it will vary greatly depending on your chain and circumstances.

The Exchange process involves handing over the money for your deposit, any remaining fees and stamp duty to your solicitors. It was scary transferring that much money at once, I was so worried it would somehow get lost on route. Once the solicitor receives the funds and everyone else in the chain has done the same then you are ready to exchange. As soon as this was done we then needed to set up buildings insurance straight away as we were then responsible for the building and committed to buying the house. This then had to be approved by the solicitors to ensure it met the requirements of the lender.

We had no idea when we were going to exchange, all of my friends seemed to have a date well in advance yet we paid all of this money and didn’t have a clue. The solicitors were very vague with us and wouldn’t give us anything concrete. They wanted us to set up buildings insurance from the date of exchange yet wouldn’t give me a date so we went around in circles for a bit. After telling us ‘exchange was just around the corner’ we then had is sprung on us that we were in fact in a chain. We then knew it was going to take forever, this really did get me down and I kept trying to think of the positives. The longer it dragged on the more money I had in the bank for furniture and other house related items.

When you exchange you should then get a completion date. Our date was 12 days later but this can happen within a week or even a matter of days. We were pleased we had a bit of extra time as we hadn’t really started packing. Those 12 days were the longest days EVER. I just wanted the keys in my hand. Completion day is the most exciting part.. the day you get your keys! I will write all about my experience with moving in my next post.

I really hope this series has helped you or at least given you a rough idea on what it’s like to buy a house for the first time! If you have any questions please feel free to use the ‘Contact’ page and drop me an email.

Helpful House Buying Links:

Where to Start 

Putting in an Offer

Solicitors and Surveys

Buying a House – Solicitors and Surveys

This post follows on from my ‘Putting in an Offer’ post and is part 3 in the series of buying a house. The next step once our offer was accepted on the house was to fully apply for the mortgage. We instructed a solicitor who was happy to act on our behalf and we gave the estate agent their details. Once applying for the mortgage via our financial adviser we had to pay for a survey. We weren’t expecting to have to pay for this so soon and the funds weren’t in place so we had to take some out of our deposit with a view of paying this back before everything was completed. I was so worried at this stage. When money gets involved it feels more real and if it all went wrong then we would be out of pocket with nothing to show for it.

There are a few different types of survey and this will all be explained to you when the time comes. We went for a Homebuyers Survey which cost £200 but this will vary per lender. The survey was booked for 2 weeks after applying for the mortgage. You will probably feel like you’re in limbo at this point. We also knew our seller hadn’t found a house so the chain hadn’t even been set up and we were already paying for things which worried me. I had no idea what was meant to happen next or what we needed to do. I spent hours on google and read hundreds of horror stories.

Before our survey took place I was told I was potentially being made redundant from work. All my hopes and dreams were shattered. If I was made redundant then our mortgage application and offer would have been withdrawn. Even if I found another job there was no guarantee I would be on the same wage meaning the amount we could borrow would reduce and we would lose the house. Of all the things that I had researched that could go wrong, this was not something I expected and made all the other horror stories seem trivial. We continued as normal hoping and praying we would complete before my impending doom. I knew if we could just get the house then we would be fine and we would be able to run it from James’ wage until I found another job. The survey took place and the mortgage lenders sent us a text saying they were reviewing the valuation report. In the meantime the seller found a vacant property which meant we had no chain – hurrah! We hoped this would speed things along. The estate agents needed to send over a Memorandum of Sale to the solicitors which they still hadn’t done so we chased that up and awaited the survey results. Thankfully I kept my job too if you were wondering!

The day after our survey took place we were told that the mortgage offer had been issued and we awaited this to arrive by post and hoped that it matched the amount we wanted to borrow. This was then re-issued due to a spelling error with my surname! Trust me to have an awkward name!

We then received our welcome pack from the solicitors which outlined all of their fees and asked for us to pay for the searches as soon as possible. I wanted to get things moving so I sent the payment straight away and filled out all of the forms required which proved we had the deposit, insurance and some information on our identity. They also asked for our ‘desired completion date’ so we went as early as we could – 6 weeks into the future so we could get in ASAP if possible! The next day we popped into the Solicitors office to prove our identity physically to avoid any further delays. We were told the searches could take up to 6 weeks because they relied on the local council to get the results back to them. This actually took around 3 weeks in the end.

The next stage involved waiting for the sellers solicitor to send over a draft contract. We chased the estate agent for this and when we found out it had been sent we then chased our solicitor. So much of the house buying process is just chase chase chase! In the meantime we received the results from the survey. There were some things that were classed as ‘level 3’ which need immediate attention. These included gas, electrics and heating but we were advised that these will always be flagged up as the surveyor cannot physically test them and generally people don’t have the safety certificates as it’s not a legal requirement unless the house is a rental. There was also mention of the property not having any mains powered smoke alarms. Most houses I have been in do not have these, just battery powered ones so we weren’t too concerned with this point. There was nothing on there that made us feel any different about the house and none of it devalued it.

We received some documents in the post and the searches were started. The documents consisted of all of the fixtures and fittings that the seller is leaving. Some people will even take the lightbulbs with them! We were really lucky in that our seller left us the washing machine, fridge, freezer, oven, mirrors and even garden furniture. We plan to replace these items eventually but the initial expense this saved us was fantastic and after a good clean they would definitely do the job.

The water searches came back after 2 days but the local ones took longer and came back after roughly 3 weeks and we then had to wait for the solicitor to prepare their final report on all of the findings of the searches and the contract information ready for exchange. When we received this report it detailed the final balance payable to complete and lots of information about the house. It was interesting to see what had been going on behind the scenes, the solicitors had even arranged for the seller to have the boiler serviced which was handy!

We wanted to exchange as soon as possible so we signed the contracts, the mortgage deed and settled the funds the next day. All that was left to do was to exchange and complete….

My Mini Terrarium - Sass & Belle*

I’ve had a large terrarium for a few months now which I put 3 small cactai inside. They have been doing really well so when I was offered the chance to receive another terrarium from Sass & Belle I couldn’t wait to go and buy more cactus supplies!

The first thing I did was to add some stones at the bottom of the glass, this helps with drainage so that the cactus doesn’t sit in water. I then added a layer of cactus compost.

Carefully I then took my cactus out of the pot it came in and repotted it into the soil inside the terrarium. I chose a cactus with yellow flowers so that it matches the décor of my living room, however I realised the flowers were glued on and were not real! I still think it looks lovely.

The terrarium arrived safely packaged with lots of bubble wrap and in a nice sized box with fragile tape holding it together. The glass feels sturdy and the terrarium feels of good quality. I am really impressed and I love the size of it. You can of course also put a candle in the terrarium or some fairy lights would also look pretty.

Sass & Belle have been kind enough to offer my readers and followers a discount of 15% when you spend over £20 online with code: christie so you can get your very own terrarium (expires 31/08/16 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer).

Do you like what I have made? Would you consider creating your own terrarium?

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Buying a House – Putting in an Offer

This post follows on from my ‘Where to Start’ post and is the second in the series. I hope this helps you if you are currently looking to buy a house yourself! After viewing multiple houses as I spoke about in my last post we were ready to make an offer. It took us nearly 4 months to find somewhere after around 7 different house viewings between us. Any houses we liked the look of we arranged to view them through the relevant estate agents. When we found one we REALLY liked, we emailed a link across to the adviser for him to check and see if he agreed with the asking prices and what the maximum he thought we could afford to offer.  He then gave us a decision in principle which is valid for 90 days so we could go back to the Estate Agents with an offer. This was daunting, our adviser was very helpful with explaining step by step what needed to happen (if you’re from Norwich and you’re looking for someone, drop me an email!).

When it comes to putting in an offer – be wary about sneaky Estate Agent tactics. We viewed a property that had been on the market for a good few months and suddenly when we showed interest the estate agent told us they’d “received an offer”. Whether this was true or not is hard to say. I personally think they only said this to gauge how high we would be willing to go and what our budget was. It is likely your first offer will be declined. As Kirsty and Phil say, if you’re not embarrassed by your first offer then it’s not low enough! Many houses are priced 5%-10% higher than they are worth in order to allow for people to offer under the asking price. I believe that you shouldn’t want your first offer accepted as it means you could have tried to go in lower! Bear in mind you may make offers on multiple houses before you find “the one”. Stick to your top budget and be prepared to walk away if you get out-bid. The right house is out there waiting.

The first offer we made on a house was around 6% lower than the asking price. We would have went lower but we were told the offers were between us and another couple and the highest one would win. I still don’t know if this was a tactic or the truth but the mystery offer was never heard of again after we put ours in. With that in mind we went at what we thought it was worth and within our budget. We called the estate agent with the offer and he said he would pass it onto the seller. It took a good 2 weeks of to-ing and fro-ing with the seller, the estate agent and us before we finally got an answer that our offer was accepted. We were congratulated by the estate agent and we were told to get the ball rolling with the next steps. 5 minutes later they called again to say the seller wanted more money and had changed their mind so we decided to walk away, we didn’t want to pay any more. The estate agent said in all of his years of doing the job he has never had someone change their mind so quickly after having 2 weeks to think about it. At the end of the day we were the only offer and if they’d rather have no money than less money then I think it’s their loss! Over a year later it is STILL sat on the market – where was the other mysterious offer they had on it then? I was just pleased we hadn’t spent money on expensive surveys before they changed their mind. I believe everything happens for a reason.

The next house we found was even better and we were more cautious with the offer as we didn’t want to lose it. We offered 7k under asking price. They then came back with a counter offer which we agreed and it was accepted, 4k off the asking. We didn’t want to lose the house or negotiate further so we went with our gut and what we were happy to pay. All of this took place within a couple of hours, a lot less time than the first house. As soon as we saw this house I knew it was the right one and I was so pleased that we didn’t get the other one. I could really picture myself being there but had to hold back because so much can still go wrong.

After your offer has been accepted it is possible that someone can come in with a higher offer. This is called “Gazumping”. As soon as your offer has been accepted, put it in writing and ask the estate agents and the seller to take it off the market. This will reduce the chances of your offer being beaten. Things can still go wrong at this stage. Just because your offer has been accepted doesn’t mean the house is yours! You can lose it right up until the exchange date. There is still a long way to go.

The next stage is get a solicitor in place. Our financial adviser kindly arranged this for us and we moved onto the next step…

My Purrfect Gift Box - May*

Last month you may have seen my review on the Purrfect Box and I was very lucky to also receive this month’s offerings. 

I cannot stress how much I love this box. I think the Purrfect Gift Box is a fantastic gift idea for cat lovers and a lovely treat for yourself. Every item I received in the box is something I will use and is so unique and I was so happy when I saw this purple box on my doorstep. It’s packed to the brim with amazing cat related items and treats. You can order a one off Standard box including some extra treats for your cat for £34.97, or £29.97 without. Keep reading to see what gorgeous items I received in this box.

The first item I saw when I opened the box was this delicious bar of chocolate which may or may not have been eaten as soon as I finished taking the photo.. Ahem. This chocolate is made here in the UK by Quirky Library and have been personalised with a cat related quote. The chocolate is a smooth milk based one and tasted absolutely divine. They also do other flavours so head over to their website and check them out!

I then saw this gorgeous retro style cat necklace which was wrapped in a nice cardboard sleeve to keep it protected. This is such unique piece and I don’t own anything like it. It’s simply stunning!

All of these necklaces are handmade and vary ever so slightly in design. I love the look of this and the dried flowers give off a great spring/summer vibe. The cat shaped pendant is see-through and would look great against any outfit as it would pick up the colour in the background from your clothing.

This gorgeous purse is purrfect for all of my cards, notes and coins. The monochrome cat  design is adorable and goes with any outfit. The quality of the purse is outstanding, the stitching is very neat and this piece is going to be a handbag essential for me from now on!

This silky grey scarf with a foil gold cat print is perfect for transitioning into summer from spring. There is often a chill in the air in England and this is the perfect accessory to combat the breeze. I love that the design isn’t too overpowering. Its subtle and I think all cat lovers would want one of these in their wardrobe. A lightweight scarf is a classic timeless piece and the grey colour complements all outfit choices.

These adorable buttons are from The Heyday Shop and are also available on etsy. These are included in the standard box and are the perfect quirky little addition to the box. I am currently trying to decide where to put these. You can replace standard buttons with these or sew them on and customise a handbag. Any cat lover would be proud to show these off!

Onto the cat gifts! This bespoke collar is handmade by Lovely Luna Crafts. I did try and get a photo of biscuit wearing it but he is so lazy and fluffy he rolled over and covered up the delicate charm so I thought it worked out better taking a photo this way! This fabric colour is vibrant, has a quick release clasp and an adorable cat charm and bell. Its also adjustable which is great for larger cats like biscuit.
 

I then received (well, Biscuit did!) some cat treats. Biscuit isn’t fussy with his treats and he loved these. The packet was quite hard to open and he was pawing at my hands to try and get a treat as he could smell them! I would definitely repurchase these as the packaging is fun too. Look at him licking his lips! 

 

The final item in the box, also for Biscuit was this lovely soft colourful fleece blanket handmade in the UK by Tillypops.  I love this fun design and biscuit couldn’t wait to get his paws on here and get settled in! The lady that makes these does so in order to raise awareness and money for Vasculitis UK Myeloma UK. There are plenty of handmade items available, I urge you to go and follow the twitter account to keep updated and see what they have to offer.

There are only a limited number of boxes available each month - so head over to My Purrfect Gift Box now and put your order in to receive the next box. A portion of each of your box subscription goes to support UK cat charities, rescue centres and animal shelters so you’ll be treating yourself all for a good cause. You won’t be disappointed. Are you a cat lover?

*I received this box free of charge. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.