Welcome to Planet South Lakes Blog

This is not something that immediately springs to mind when we think of the onset of global warming but, with house values falling and energy prices constantly on the rise, it is becoming increasingly important for home owners to make sure that they pay more attention to the upkeep of their existing properties. Energy efficiency has become a topic that needs to be given increasing credibility in today’s modern economic climate.

Firstly we need to examine where our homes are most likely to be losing heat from.  One of the obvious places would be the loft space and the walls and to make sure that the house’s insulation was doing its job, but one of the areas that may be overlooked is the windows and doors of a property.

Obviously we cannot avoid opening the windows and doors and this is where we think we lose most of the heat from within our homes, when we have to leave the house or open the windows for fresh air, but if the windows and doors are of a certain age then we could be losing unneeded energy for the sake of an upgrade. By making an investment now we could be saving thousands of pounds in the long run and also enhance the value of the house, at a time when taking into consideration how much a property is worth is as important as ever.

Did you know for instance that all modern windows have an energy rating the same as fridges, boilers and washing machines do?  This is to allow the consumer to make the most informed choice possible, especially now that there is lots of different type of glazing on the market.  Basically if you have something like an A-rated energiMAX™  PVC window installed then you stand to lose absolutely no heat from your home.

Not only will you increase the value of your property and become more energy efficient, resulting in cheaper heating bills, but you will also be helping to save the planet by producing less CO2 emissions.  Now that can’t be a bad thing can it? Saving money and making the world a better place to live for future generations just by making a modest investment in some home improvements.

The advantages of having modern, sealed, PVC units doesn’t end their though.  To use the example of the energiMAX™ window above, by combining the right types of glazing, the windows that face southwards will trap the Sun’s warmth in the house and actually contribute to heating the house, which will see even more of a reduction in your heating costs.

So, having new doors and windows fitted that not only prevent the property from losing heat but actually help to produce energy is a way we can all contribute to cutting down on the amount of CO2 that is produced.  It is thought that by having properly sealed units installed by a reputable home improvement company that a house can reduce its emissions by as much as 2 tons of Carbon Dioxide a year.  Imagine how far that would go to reducing the accelerated effects of global warming.  By combining this with other simple energy saving measures like not leaving household appliances on standby etc we can all make one massive contribution to saving the planet, whilst at the same time saving a bit of money for ourselves in the long run.

Planet South Lakes are delighted to announce a host of special offers designed to beat the credit crunch and blitz the cold winter weather for anyone looking to buy any of their conservatories, windows or doors throughout the Lancaster, Morecambe, Barrow-in-Furness or Kendal areas.

A spokesperson from Planet South Lakes made this statement last week;
“We are determined to make sure that people are given the best chance possible to remain energy efficient and safe in their homes, in spite of the recent economic conditions that have coupled with the rise in fuel costs over recent years.”

Examples of the offers being made by Planet South Lakes include.
- 12 Months interest Free on all conservatories
- 12 Months interest Free on all windows and doors.
- 123 Guarantee on all conservatories and glazing products.

Anybody wishing to take advantage of the offer on conservatories and placing their order this month will also receive some fabulous discounts and free add-ons.  So there are many things to feel good about with Planet South Lakes at the moment.

What is the 1-2-3 Guarantee?
Planet South Lakes realise that, although most householders want to make their home more energy efficient and in the long term will potentially save thousands of pounds in energy costs by doing so, they also realise that for many people having new windows, doors or a conservatory fitted is an investment that needs to be carefully considered.  This is why they have teamed up with the Conservatory Outlet to come up with the ingenious but simple 123 guarantee to give their customers not one, not two but three reasons to have peace of mind with their glazing investment.

Number 1 – £1000 Security
Planet South Lakes are so confident with a Conservatory Outlet installation that in the unlikely event of a break-in succeeding due to the failure of their products that they will pay you £500 for any inconvenience caused and pay the cost (up to £500) of replacing or repairing the forced window or door.

Number 2 – 10 Year Manufacturer’s Guarantee
Deposit indemnity insurance is automatically included in your contract for no additional cost.  This means that all Conservatory Outlet supplied products, including window frames and hardware, will have a 10 year manufacturer guarantee in addition to your dealer’s standard guarantee.  This covers you for any remedial works that may be required after the installation of your products is complete.

Number 3 – Insurance Backed Guarantee
Conservatory Outlet dealers also offer a separate insurance backed guarantee. Your local dealer will be able to give you more information on which insurance Backed Guarantee scheme they can offer you. Separate insurance guarantees are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) who is the independent watchdog that regulates financial services.

For more details about Planet South Lakes and the Conservatory Outlets’ full range of products and services, to get a FREE Online Quotation or to book a FREE Consultation then please browse www.planetsouthlakes.com, call free phone 0800 612 2255 or visit their Kendal Showroom.

House prices fell 2.2 per cent in December, as the property slowdown looks set to continue into 2009.

The Halifax house price index shows a 16.2 per cent drop in house prices over 2008 – with the average home how worth £159,896, the level last seen in April 2003.

Halifax managed to gain some positives from the dismal figures, as the level of decline is at least stabilising – dropping 5.2 per cent in the final quarter of 2008 and roughly matching drops of the previous two quarters.

Martin Ellis, Halifax chief economist, predicted further housee price drops in 2009.

“Continuing pressures on incomes and the negative impact of the dislocation of the financial markets on the availability of mortgage finance are expected to exert further downward pressure on the market over the coming months,” he said.

“But a number of factors will help to support demand and should help to limit the downturn.

“Improving housing affordability and an easing in the pressure on the majority of households’ finances should support market activity and prices. The house price to earnings ratio – a key affordability measure – is at its lowest for five and a half years.”

Halifax also claims UK consumers are better prepared to face the recession than in the 1990s.

The percentage of home owners with mortgages reporting payment problems is now around half the levels seen in the early 1990s, and levels of mortgage arrears and repossessions – although rising – are at low levels compared with the early 1990s.

“The Halifax reported that house prices plummeted by a further 2.2% in December, after plunging by 2.7% in November and 2.4% in October. Consequently, house prices were down by 16.2% year-on-year in the three months to December. Furthermore, house prices were down 18.9% year-on-year in December itself,” said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at Global Insight,

“This is a sharper drop than was seen in the early 1990’s housing downturn.”

He added the outlook for the housing market remains bleak with a further 15 per cent drop in house prices predicted for 2009 and the first half of 2010 should see a further five per cent drop.

This would put house prices at the end of the down turn at £129,116 – 35 per cent down on the peak of the market and at the same point as mid-2003.

“Even if government measures to get banks to step up their lending increasingly take effect, it will clearly take time for confidence to improve and mortgage lending to pick up significantly,” Mr Archer said.

“These factors are likely to continue to outweigh the beneficial impact of lower mortgage interest rates resulting from the Bank of England slashing interest rates, particularly as it is still very difficult to get a mortgage.”

Halifax itself is not publishing a house price prediction for 2009 due to its merger with Lloyds TSB.