Interview boydens.co.uk 24 You’re a fully qualified mortgage adviser – what’s your biggest piece of advice for someone taking out a mortgage? If you have the means, try and make overpayments. Most lenders will allow you to overpay 10 per cent of the total balance, which is plenty. Overpayments will come straight off the capital, which means you will pay less interest and increase your equity quicker. You founded the online platform BrickzWithTipz with your wife, Antoinette – what made you launch it and what sort of advice does it offer? Antoinette and I used to spend hours on end speaking to people on the phone about their property journey and giving tips. In actual fact, BrickzWithTipz existed way before the social media pages, but probably in a more inefficient manner. Social media platforms now allow us to reach so many people at a time and our audience pick up tips on all aspects of property from savings to mortgages to interior design. Which is your favourite style of property interior and why? At any one time, I have a million things running through my mind at once. I love a minimalist interior design style to offset this! I feel like the space and the simplicity puts my mind at ease. Which part of a property (inside or out) gets you most excited when making an investment or starting a renovation project? It has to be the kitchen. I think naturally there is a lot more you can do with a kitchen and there are many different styles. It’s no wonder it can have such a big impact on the price. I think the living room is equally as important because it’s where we all spend time together as a family after a busy day. Which simple home improvements do you think can add most value to a property? There are many simple home improvements you can go for that won’t cost too much either. Common ones are improving lighting in a room, repainting a room, adding a feature wall, adding some plants, adding a mirror or two to make rooms look bigger, and finally my favourite – refreshing your kitchen by adding new cabinet doors, handles or even using a vinyl cover to give it a new look. DO ask the vendor why they are selling DO research the area as it’s one of the only things you won’t be able to change DO ensure you lean on professional advice that you have already paid for. If you have any queries, make sure you ask your mortgage advisor or solicitor DON’T view the house once – always ensure you view twice before buying and preferably at different times of the day DON’T be put off by things that are easily changed (lime green paint and the previous owner’s ugly sofa!) DON’T expect your new home to tick every single box you have. One of the only ways this is possible is to build from scratch. Don’t worry though, you can tick the remaining boxes when you move in and create your dream home! Instagram @brickzwithtipz WHAT ARE YOUR TOP DOS AND DON’TS FOR BUYING OR SELLING A NEW HOME?
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