As the leaves turn those vibrant shades of red and gold, you may be questioning whether fall is the right time to sell your home. The answer is a resounding yes. Here’s why selling in the fall can be an excellent decision.

Firstly, there’s less competition in fall compared to the bustling spring and summer seasons. Many sellers wait until spring, assuming it’s the ideal time. However, this results in an abundance of available properties, making it harder for any single home to stand out. In contrast, fall's quieter marketplace means your home has a better chance of catching buyers’ attention.

Secondly, the cozy ambiance of fall can really enhance your home’s appeal. The season's natural beauty provides a picturesque backdrop for property photos, and homes can be staged with warm, inviting touches like autumnal decorations and scents of cinnamon or pumpkin spice. Don't resist the urge to pumpkin spice latte your home! Moreover, cooler temperatures make house hunting more pleasant, encouraging potential buyers to attend open houses and viewings. All of these elements can create a strong emotional connection for potential buyers.

Importantly, with fewer houses on the market, not only will your house stand out, but there will also be more flow in the process. There is less overload in these cooler months, so the whole process is less frantic and more tailored to your unique needs. Lenders, real estate agents, lawyers, surveyors and appraisers all tend to have less work during the fall, meaning the process can happen much quicker and more smoothly than in the busy spring and summer months.

Ready to embrace the season? Call or email me today if you’re considering selling this fall.

In humanity's quest to reduce carbon emissions and lessen our footprint on the environment, a fantastic breakthrough has been made in the UK with the advent of the world's first carbon-neutral airship.

HAV (Hybrid Air Vehicles) is a British blimp-making company working on creating sustainable air travel for the future, decarbonising one of the biggest polluting industries on the planet. Their latest invention is Airlander 10, a prototype airship that can travel 460 miles using a mixture of electricity and combustion. HAV says their new ship will reduce the average carbon dioxide emissions per customer by up to 75 percent and are aiming to have a fleet operational for short-haul flights by 2025.

The initial routes they are looking to offer include flights between Vancouver and Seattle, from England to Northern Ireland and from Barcelona to Spain's Balearic Islands. Furthermore, by 2030, HAV hopes to have a completely zero-emissions fleet, switching to all-electric airships and removing the element of combustion.

After six test flights yielded a high success rate, the Airlander 10 prototype is now officially certified to fly in the UK, and the company hopes to have three ready for service by 2025. From there onwards, they hope to build 10 new airships per year.

With the climate emergency as present as it's ever been in the public consciousness, this is a breakthrough that will give genuine hope to many, paving the way for an optimistic future for a sustainable air travel industry.

Preheat oven to 425˚F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. With a fork, poke holes in sweet potatoes. Bake until tender, 45-50 minutes. Split the tops open. Let cool.

Raise oven temperature to 450˚F. Lay grapes on baking sheet, add oil, a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to coat. Roast until grapes begin to burst, 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool.

When sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh with spoon, keeping potato intact. In large bowl, mash sweet potato flesh, 3 ounces goat cheese, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper and honey. Scoop flesh back into potato skins. Warm up potatoes if needed, then top with remaining goat cheese. Add grapes, drizzle with honey and serve.

Improving your home can be an exciting yet daunting task. To help you navigate your home improvements smoothly, here are six things not to do when giving your house a makeover.

Don’t plant trees too close to your home. It might seem like a great idea to add some greenery, but planting trees too close to your home can lead to root damage to your foundations and plumbing. Plant trees at a safe distance to avoid future headaches. Garden centre staff will be able to help you find the very best plants for you.

Don’t clean windows on a sunny day. Cleaning windows when the sun is shining directly on them can cause the cleaner to dry too quickly, leaving streaks. Choose a cloudy day to get a spotless, streak-free finish.

Don’t ignore regulations. Skipping the necessary permits might save time initially but can lead to major issues down the road, including fines and even the nightmare of having to undo your work. Always check local regulations, get the proper permits, and make sure you display them!

Don’t use the wrong tools. Although not splashing out on fancy tools might save money, using the wrong tools for a job can lead to poor results and potential injury. Make sure you have the right tools or hire a professional if needed.

Don’t forget to protect your furniture. There’s nothing worse than eyeing up a beautifully renovated room only to find your couch ruined by dust, debris and flying paint. Cover your furniture with sheeting or move it to another room to keep it safe. Resist the urge to move your drop cloths and sheets before everything has dried, as you could smudge and track paint around by mistake once you think you have the job done!

For more ideas on how to protect your home when carrying out improvements, call or email me today and I’ll be happy to discuss with you.

We've all had moments when someone has been critical or rude to us, either in conversation or the way they've acted. It's not nice when it happens, and it's easy to think the person in question might have something against you. In the quest for self-compassion, though, it's important to remember that this isn't always the case, and you don't need to take someone else's behaviour as a reflection of your own self-worth. Here are four tips on not taking things personally.

1. Appreciate that there could be other factors at play. If someone has a stressful day, they'll find it more difficult to put on a friendly, upbeat front around others. Or, if someone doesn't respond to a text, they may just be busy with things like childcare or work. It doesn't mean they're ignoring you!

2. Consider times when outside influences made you act similarly. Be aware of the fact that you've probably acted the same way with others during difficult times. You know you didn't mean to upset the other people in those situations, so when it happens the other way around, put yourself in their shoes.

3. Think constructively about any criticism and understand that it doesn't define you. Rationally decide whether you believe the criticism to be true and, if so, look at how you can take the comment constructively and learn from the situation.

4. Remember that self-worth comes from within, not from what others think of you. If we define our self-esteem based on how we think others perceive us, we'll never feel truly happy. Understand that sometimes you can't please everyone, so don't allow those moments to make you reflect negatively on yourself.