http://www.a1articles.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com We all know how important it is to keep our home secure when we aren't there, but have you ever thought that your home could be at risk from criminals breaking in under your very nose? Almost three million people say that have been targeted by so-calle... http://www.a1articles.com/would-you-let-a-stranger-into-your-home-1584209.html 03rd June 2010 When making an application for home insurance, it's always best to take care not to under-insure oneself. For example, were you to lose some or all of the contents of your property to a fire, it can be nightmarish to find that you weren't covered for vari... http://www.a1articles.com/what-not-to-forget-when-applying-for-home-insurance-1584202.html 03rd June 2010 Without meaning to jinx things, the weather has been pretty lovely in the last week or two (apologies if you're now reading this in soggy September). So, a little earlier than usual, we thought we would put together our yearly tips on keeping your home sa... http://www.a1articles.com/top-tips-for-keeping-your-home-safe-in-the-sunshine-1579772.html 02nd June 2010 So you've bought your home insurance policy, set up a direct debit and got on with life knowing you're fully covered should anything happen to your house and possessions. But don't get too relaxed! If you don't regularly check with home insurance price co... http://www.a1articles.com/tips-on-renewing-your-home-insurance-policy-1579723.html 02nd June 2010 Home improvement is all the rage at present as homeowners believe this offers a more reliable method of adding value to a property than leaving the value open to market forces alone. In fact, new findings show that post-recession Brits still value their b... http://www.a1articles.com/ten-ways-to-add-value-to-your-home-1579609.html 02nd June 2010 Empty homes provide summer burglars with easy pickings. In the excitement of preparing for your annual holiday double checking your home cover and car insurance is up-to-date might not seem very appealing. But when you leave your home empty you leave i... http://www.a1articles.com/protect-your-property-1579572.html 02nd June 2010 What I'm about to vent about may sound dull when you realise it's about Home Information Packs, but I feel I should share it all the same, as there's something not quite right going on there, in my experience. When Home Information Packs were first mad... http://www.a1articles.com/making-a-mock-of-home-information-packs-1579558.html 02nd June 2010 You can't let a property without getting viewings - here are some tips on attracting tenants Is your rental property sitting empty whilst your buy-to-let mortgage is costing you cash? Have you tried and failed to get tenants into the property? If so, i... http://www.a1articles.com/landlords-can-boost-rental-viewings-with-these-tips-1579532.html 02nd June 2010 Ryan O'Meara, publisher of K9 Magazine, tells us what he thinks about the contentious issues surrounding the Dangerous Dogs Act. The subject of dangerous dogs is in the news again following a recent fatality, the sixth in five years, plus government co... http://www.a1articles.com/scared-by-dogs-the-government-wants-to-know-if-you-feel-in-danger-1579512.html 02nd June 2010 For many people, their garden is the biggest ‘space' in the home - and one that's ripe for investment. There's been a host of garden makeover shows offering grand and sometimes downright crazy ideas, so what's the best way to get a patch that adds value... http://www.a1articles.com/give-your-garden-a-makeover-for-spring-1579450.html 02nd June 2010 Harder-to-get mortgages mean that the property ladder is now even further out of reach for a lot of us. But being a tenant isn't necessarily a bad thing: renting allows greater flexibility, house prices are falling, rent is falling, and tenants' rights ar... http://www.a1articles.com/deposit-protection-schemes-for-tenants-explained-1579446.html 02nd June 2010 With the recession in full swing, would-be thieves are getting busy. There has seen been an increase of burglaries in England and Wales, according to Home Office figures which showed a 4% rise for the second quarter in a row. Meanwhile, the Met Office ... http://www.a1articles.com/top-10-tips-to-keep-burglars-at-bay-1579398.html 02nd June 2010 Don't put off owning a property when there are ways and means of buying your own home. If you thought it was impossible to get a foot on the property ladder, think again. Affordable housing was introduced by the Government to help first-time buyers, ke... http://www.a1articles.com/an-insiders-guide-to-affordable-housing-1579359.html 02nd June 2010 They call it black gold for your garden, and what's more, it's totally free! No wonder homemade compost is the gardener's new best friend. There are many advantages to creating your own compost heap. Gone are the days of buying expensive bags of compo... http://www.a1articles.com/compose-yourself-for-composting-1579352.html 02nd June 2010 It's been an interesting two weeks to say the least and if you read my last blog you'll know I recently made an offer on a house. In fact, the house isn't quite what I saw myself buying, but after viewing more properties than I'd like to recall and bringi... http://www.a1articles.com/are-estate-agents-piling-on-the-pressure-1577973.html 02nd June 2010 When insuring the contents of one's home against theft, damage or loss, it's surprisingly easy to underestimate the sum total of your stuff. For this reason, it's common for people to be underinsured, and hence fall short of being able to replace all thei... http://www.a1articles.com/a-handy-little-app-for-calculating-your-home-contents-value-1577962.html 02nd June 2010 There's no doubt moving house is a stressful experience, especially if you're attempting the DIY approach and hiring a van. But with a bit of pre-planning you can avoid potential pitfalls and be settled into your new abode in no time. Though it's tempt... http://www.a1articles.com/moving-home-then-diy-to-save-money-1577661.html 02nd June 2010 If you are a victim of an accident which wasn't your fault and as result you have sustained an injury you may be entitled to compensation. If this is the case you may require the assistance of a Solicitor who can act on your behalf in making a successful ... http://www.a1articles.com/tips-for-winning-a-personal-injury-claim-1575450.html 01st June 2010 Most people are familiar with the phrase no win no fee but how many understand the true meaning of the work done on a no win no fee agreement? No win no fee agreements are most commonly entered into by Injury Claims Solicitors and Employment Law Solici... http://www.a1articles.com/what-are-no-win-no-fee-solicitors-1575348.html 01st June 2010 Whether the driver of a vehicle, passenger or pedestrian simply crossing the road, a road traffic accident can occur at any time and often without any warning. A collision between vehicles or indeed between a vehicle and a pedestrian will normally be e... http://www.a1articles.com/information-and-advice-on-getting-a-good-auto-accident-settlement-1575298.html 01st June 2010 With the exception of family or criminal matters, many civil claims are eligible for a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA's), commonly known as 'no win, no fee'. The most common use of no win no fee agreements are compensation claims for personal injury. T... http://www.a1articles.com/a-guide-to-understanding-no-win-no-fee-1575067.html 31st May 2010 We recently ran an ISA surgery inviting you, our readers, to send us your ISA questions and confusions. We got together with Fair Investment, the Tax Incentivised Savings Association (TISA) and the Buildings Societies Association to help clear up some of ... http://www.a1articles.com/your-top-isa-questions-answered-1522234.html 28th April 2010 In order to explore ways to strengthen the power of the public, the Carnegie UK Trust set up a Commission of Inquiry into the future of Civil Society. One of the major policies to spring out of it was a simple labelling measure, aimed at making financial ... http://www.a1articles.com/making-saving-simpler-1522168.html 28th April 2010 We recently ran an ISA surgery and invited our readers to send us their ISA questions. We were inundated with responses and, sadly, couldn't answer them all, but we did do our best to address as many as we could and cover the common themes that cropped up... http://www.a1articles.com/isas-unwrapped-1521836.html 28th April 2010 With interest rates at all time lows, many ISA savers are frantically shopping around to find the best rates in order to maximise their returns. But as much as this is a sensible step to take, many savers are being prevented from making the most of their ... http://www.a1articles.com/how-savers-are-being-penalised-by-isa-transfer-holdups-1521817.html 28th April 2010 It's that time of year again when savers make a mad dash to deposit their money into an ISA to earn tax-free interest on savings. Savers have until the end of the tax year on 5 April to save into an ISA, and as the ISA deadline draws closer, banks and ... http://www.a1articles.com/isa-bestbuys-1521765.html 27th April 2010 House prices climbed 4.5 per cent over the last year, leaving the average property in the UK worth £166,587. That's according to the March Halifax House Price Index, which also reported that prices actually fell in February by 1.5 per cent. But does a... http://www.a1articles.com/uncertain-property-market-is-now-the-time-to-fix-1521735.html 27th April 2010 How would you like to pay off your mortgage years ahead of term and save thousands of pounds in interest charges? Sounds tempting doesn't it? And with interest rates currently at a record low, now is a good time to pay down your debt by overpaying your... http://www.a1articles.com/pay-down-your-debt-with-a-supercheap-mortgage-1521660.html 27th April 2010 Valentine's Day comes and goes but it's never a bad time to show the one you love how much you care. And what better way to say "I love you" than by thinking outside the box when it comes to presents? From hiring your very own butler to racing round a ... http://www.a1articles.com/valentine-treat-tips-1521557.html 27th April 2010 "A Wallis Charity Charm bracelet I bought for £15 in 2005 is now worth £60," laughs ultra-modern collectibles consultant, Tracy Martin. "Anyone can buy items today that will become profitable tomorrow." Always on the hunt for a bargain with investmen... http://www.a1articles.com/pay-for-next-christmas-with-a-spot-of-savvy-sales-shopping-1521540.html 27th April 2010 Credit card customers have been given a boost after new rules to protect them from unfair treatment were launched today (15 March). The best news among the measures is a change in what banks call the allocation of payments. Previously, many lenders had... http://www.a1articles.com/new-credit-card-measures-how-they-affect-you-1521505.html 27th April 2010 One of the biggest fears for many people is not being able to pay the mortgage - or meet other financial commitments - if they are made redundant or unable to work due to illness or accident. This is particularly worrying in the current uncertain clima... http://www.a1articles.com/a-guide-to-income-protection-1476248.html 29th March 2010 As Valentine's Day approaches perhaps you're planning to shower your loved one with indulgent presents. Some romantic types might even be preparing to pop the question, and a sparkly engagement ring usually helps engender the desired response. But, wit... http://www.a1articles.com/planning-on-getting-engaged-check-youre-covered-1476202.html 29th March 2010 Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were introduced by the government in 2005 to give children a good financial start in life, and in the few years since they've launched, the take-up has been ever increasing. According to The Children's Mutual - a provider of ch... http://www.a1articles.com/what-next-for-child-trust-funds-1476191.html 29th March 2010 The-over 50s have felt the effects of the recession more than most, as those who rely on the interest earned from their savings to supplement their income have been hard hit by plummeting rates and rising inflation. This makes it more important than eve... http://www.a1articles.com/top-moneysaving-tips-for-the-over-50s-1476144.html 29th March 2010 The start of the new year is set to trigger a surge in car sales, according to new figures which show two fifths (*) of drivers are going to buy - or are considering buying - a new or used set of wheels in 2010. While new car sales have recently seen ... http://www.a1articles.com/how-to-finance-a-new-set-of-wheels-1476056.html 29th March 2010 Soaring gas and electricity prices have forced thousands of people to fall into the misery of energy debt. The latest figures released by energy regulator Ofgem (21 January) reveal an alarming climb in the number of people falling behind with their ene... http://www.a1articles.com/coping-with-the-worry-of-energy-debt-1475887.html 29th March 2010 The Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed! Campaign have estimated that as many as 81% of households in the UK don't have an audible CO alarm. So quite a lot, then. And the trouble with carbon monoxide is... well, there are lots of troubling things about carbon m... http://www.a1articles.com/carbon-monoxide-a-most-unwelcome-guest-1475847.html 29th March 2010 When it comes to buying a new set of wheels, most of us will spend hours deliberating over the make and model before signing on the dotted line. As a motorist, there are all sorts of factors to take into consideration, such as price, reliability, fuel ... http://www.a1articles.com/weigh-up-the-costs-when-choosing-a-new-car-1475748.html 29th March 2010 Have you been nervously eyeing that old boiler during the Arctic-like weather? Then you'll be happy to hear that the first round of vouchers for the government's boiler scrappage scheme are about to be released, offering £400 for your old boiler to pu... http://www.a1articles.com/how-to-cash-in-on-the-boiler-scrappage-scheme-1475690.html 29th March 2010 As more and more of us run our lives through social media, it can be easy to forget the real-life risks that your tweeting can create. A new website, PleaseRobMe.com is warning oblivious users that posting their whereabouts via portals such as Twitter ... http://www.a1articles.com/how-tweeting-can-put-your-home-at-risk-1475617.html 29th March 2010 If you're not a member of the Neighbourhood Watch already, then you've probably at least heard of the scheme. Or seen the round sticker with the smiley bobby and the happy community members. But joining the Neighbourhood Watch is about more than getting a... http://www.a1articles.com/join-the-neighbourhood-watch-and-reduce-premiums-1475495.html 29th March 2010 With the first warm day of spring not too far around the corner, motorcyclists nationwide will be dusting down their helmets and leathers and getting ready for the riding season. If you've not used your bike over the winter period though, you may be tempt... http://www.a1articles.com/the-benefits-of-biking--why-two-wheels-are-better-than-four-1475467.html 29th March 2010 Hi, I'm Victoria and I'll be filling in for Owe over the next few weeks. In terms of my credentials, I definitely think I qualify under the heading of ‘Dazed and Confused'. And, as a girl who's served in financial services for five years, I've learnt a ... http://www.a1articles.com/beware-the-dreaded-store-card-1475408.html 29th March 2010 The Robin Hood Tax - is it an ethical tax on City trading? A wealth redistribution attack on the City? Or, as I believe, a wildly ‘outside the box' strain of viral marketing for the upcoming Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe Robin Hood movie? Whichever, I thou... http://www.a1articles.com/the-robin-hood-tax--what-is-it-whos-behind-it-whos-against-it-1475371.html 29th March 2010