Are you starting to think about taking that first step on the property ladder? Perhaps you have been saving hard for that deposit and now feel ready to take the plunge? Buying your first home is an exciting experience, but stepping into the unknown can be a little scary, which is why today we want to break the process down for you in our 5 tips for buying your first home. 

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Get some mortgage advice

The first thing to do is get some mortgage advice. You need to ensure that you are in a position to borrow the amount that you are hoping to and check that your credit history enables you to get a mortgage.

Your mortgage advisor should talk you thought the full process and they will be able to let you know how much you will need to pay back each month and over the full term of the mortgage. 

Think about location

Now that you are happy that you can borrow what you need, you need to pin down the ideal location for your first home.

You might choose to be near to your work, your family or your friends. You might choose to do something completely different and set up home in a neighbourhood that you have always dreamed of living in. 

Think about the reality of your chosen location. Does it fit your needs on a day to day basis and are the properties affordable to you in that area? 

List your must-haves

We all have these when it comes to buying a house, so you need to write a list of your must-haves for your first home. You might be keen on it being a house, or perhaps you love the idea of apartment living. You might need a certain number of bedrooms, or it might be outside space that is key for you. 

Note down those things that you want and then divide them up into things that are essential and then things that you would be willing to compromise on.

The property hunt

Armed with your preferred location and property must-haves you can begin your property hunt. While you can do a lot of this on the internet, it is always worth getting in touch with local estate agents too. Brief them on everything that you are looking for, advise them that you are a first time buyer and that you have a provisional mortgage offer in place. 

Agents love a first time buyer as you can move quickly on a sale and they will let you know of any new suitable properties about to come onto the market.

When you find that perfect pad, put in your offer, and fingers crossed it will be accepted.

The practicalities

Now that you have found your home, you need to place a full mortgage application with those property details, instruct a solicitor and arrange a removals company for the big day itself, you could try https://www.mybekins.com/locations/henderson-nv-movers/ 

A house sale can typically take between two to four months, so work with those timescales and keep in touch with the agent and your lender and solicitor throughout the process. 

Before you know it you will have those keys!

Famed for high brow culture, the city of lights, Paris is an ideal city destination to enjoy with the whole family. Even if the cultural side of Paris isn’t what the kids might have in mind they’re sure to enjoy eating roadside crepes, diving into the famous sweet shops, Disneyland Paris and climbing the Eiffel Tower. Paris is a very exciting city with an unbeatable ambience. The museums are kid-friendly, there are fun transportation choices and fantastic food. There is really easy access to the main tourist attraction too which makes it ideal for even the littlest of kids.





Have a look below at some tips on travel to Paris with kids:

Things To See And Do

There is plenty of kid-Friendly things to do and see in Paris. It’s packed to the brim with museums and although some are more kid-friendly than others, with a little bit of research you’ll know exactly which ones to hit. Try not to force them upon the kids as some adults have been known to. Take two days to explore a place like the Louvre, it’s important to make sure it stays fun for both you and the kids so, take it slow and play it by ear.

As well as it’s museums Paris has a fair few churches that show off a range of architectural styles. From its Gothic-style churches like Sainte-Chapelle, and the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, that sadly was struck by a devastating fire in April this year, there is plenty to see.

The Eiffel Tower is always a hit with kids as long as they aren’t afraid of heights, it has three hundred steps, but there are two levels of elevators if you have smaller children with you. The Eiffel Tower even has a special guidebook available to visiting kids. In it, you will find the answers to questions that children may have about the tower.

Places To Stay In Paris

Whether you chose to rent an apartment or look for Paris hotels for families there is a wide range of choices when it comes to places to stay. Wherever you choose to stay it’s a good idea to make sure it will accommodate a family and isn’t too far from all the places you want to see. If you’re planning on visiting Disney Land Paris you might want to stay a little outside of the main city.

Outside Paris

On the outskirts of Paris are two completely different attractions that are both are ideal for the kids. You have the Palace of Versailles which is a World Heritage site with amazing outside gardens and mazes and then you have Disneyland Paris, which is world-famous for being a magical place to visit with the kids. You will find that the attractions and characters are completely different from its American sister and the music is played in French. Be warned if you don’t want to go to Disneyland as it’s advertised all over Paris city.

These are just a few of the top tips for travel to Paris with kids there are other things to consider such as travelling there and how you’re going to get around the city. Do you have any other tips that you can share in the comments section below?

Mookie xx

Why You Should Consider Adding Lash Extensions to Your Repertoire as a Mobile Beautician

If you are running your own beauty business, then it can be good to sometimes add new things to your menu, and be able to offer your existing clients a more varied service, as well as potentially bring in new people. If you currently do make-up, nails, or hair, or all of the above, then there are various other beauty treatments you can learn how to do, stock up for, and provide. These can mean things like eyebrow shaping with threading, waxing or conventional plucking, pedicures, acrylic nail extensions, and all kinds of other popular treatments you are likely already well aware of the market for. However, one option you may not have considered, as it is still really just starting to catch on as a conventional beauty treatment in some areas, is lash extensions.

Why Are Lash Extensions A Good Service To Offer?

Lash extensions have been popular for at least a decade, but are now really moving from being a special occasion thing or something only the most glam women have, to a fairly normal part of a lot of people's beauty habits. Having lash extensions can mean a better and more defined eye shape and lash line, while also saving the wearer time by meaning they don't have to apply eye make-up every day to have a reasonably made up look. Lash extensions can range from very long, thick party lashes that can even feature bright colors or metallic effects, through to very natural lash looks that simply enhance the lashes by making them appear much thicker, longer, and darker, without any mascara. 

Why Are Lash Extensions Good for Mobile Beauticians?

One great thing about lash extensions is that to be able to do them for people at home, you don't need to carry a lot of expensive, heavy tools and kit. The lashes themselves, as you might expect, weigh next to nothing, so you can keep a wide selection in your collection in order to create the perfect look for your client on the fly. Other than that, you only need the special adhesives and basic beauty tools like tweezers. Lash extensions are also great for repeat custom, because they do need to be replaced fairly regularly, and they are great for when somebody wants a new look for a special event.

How Easy is it to Learn?

Check out The Lash Professional, who can offer all of the eyelash extension supplies that you need to get started and also offer a one day online eyelash training course that teaches you how to use the products. The more stylistic side of learning to apply eyelash extensions will also be covered in your eyelash extension course, and is not too tricky for people who are used to working around the eyes - for instance people with experience in brow shaping and eye make-up, and you'll soon have a great feel for how to create all different looks with different lashes.

If you are looking to add a new service for 2020, then it is well worth looking into how you can begin to offer eyelash extensions to your clients, and plan how to advertise your new beauty offering!

Mookie xx

Becoming an expat is a big move in anyone’s life. If you’re going to sum up the courage to move halfway across the world to a country that you weren’t born in, you’re taking a huge step, that anyone would find hard to undertake themselves! And of course, some places are better for us than others.

So, if you’re curious, we’ve listed three of the best places for a first time expat to move to below. Or maybe you’re thinking of upping sticks and want to know where to head first? Maybe you’re the picky pal in your friend group, and you want to be sure you’re headed somewhere you know will work out for you. Either way, these are some great suggestions for you!


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Melbourne

Australia is a big country, famous for its hot weather and exotic wildlife. And if you’re looking to become an expat for the first time, moving to Melbourne might be the best first step for you! It’s a big city, with lots to do, and that’s just what you want from your first foray into foreign culture. You’ll have access to all kinds of arts and entertainment, and there will be plenty of doctors around if anything goes awry with your health - it’s a traveler’s dream!

New York City

The Big Apple. It’s the wonder of many travelers, and it’s only many bucket lists the whole world round. You’ll get to know the infamous subway system, and you’ll learn how to walk fast and keep up the pace; there’s a lot to see, and a lot of people on the streets. Very few people use their own transport here, so if you don’t have a car to take abroad (because that gets pricey too), you’ll fit right in!

But finding the right nyc address can be a bit tricky, of course. It’s quite a high profile, high traffic area, and rent costs can be high. But if you’ve saved up for a 3 or 6 month trip away, you’ll want to splash the cash to stay here - it’s common to have roommates here too, so you’ll definitely be able to mingle with the locals whilst you’re away!

Tokyo

Maybe a bit further afield than you were thinking, but Tokyo is a great city for a first time expat. You’ll travel halfway across the world, which is an achievement for any traveler, and there’s always something going on in this city.

It might be a bit of a cultural shift, and you’ll need to look up the social norms before you go, but it won’t be too much trouble for your already impeccable manners! And there’s a great nightlife scene, and all kinds of new experiences for you to get to grips with; ever heard of a capsule hotel?

Settling down abroad can be scary, but if you want to go, check out these big destinations first. They’re great for first time expats, and you might just find a new home.

Mookie xx