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Five Key Reasons to Move to Scotland
Up until the turn of the century, many Scots left their home country to move somewhere else in the UK. In the past 20 years, that trend has been reversed; Scotland’s population has increased by almost 150,000 as more and more people move there from the rest of the UK.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer high-end removals to Scotland and all parts of the UK, provide a few practical reasons why the country is currently an extremely attractive proposition when it comes to moving house.
There are No Barriers
Even though the Scottish people voted in favour of remaining in the European Union, the overall ‘no’ vote means that the country is still part of the UK. This means there are no barriers to immigration, as there are no powers which have been devolved to the Scottish Assembly Parliament.
So, there are no extra forms to fill in as long as you are a UK citizen, and you (and your immediate family) are automatically entitled to free NHS care if you live in the country. As well as there being no language barrier (although the Scots do have their own slang), the people are usually very welcoming – although it’s best to keep off the subject of politics!
It Should be Cheaper
The cost of living is usually quite a bit cheaper north of the border – 10% cheaper if you are comparing English cities with Scottish cities, and 30% if you are comparing Scottish cities with London. A lot of this is down to Scotland’s housing costs, which are (on average) the lowest across the whole of the UK.
There are other financial benefits too – the starter rate of income tax is 19% (compared to 20% in England) which is good news for the lower-paid; and tuition fees are lower too. If your son or daughter is off to college or university, the fees you’ll have to pay have been capped by the Scottish Government at £1,820 for the 2022/23 academic year. In England, the cap has been set at £9,250.
There’s an Extra Bank Holiday
Although the picture has been complicated in recent years by the Royal bank holidays (the Queen’s platinum jubilee last year, and King Charles’ coronation this year) Scotland generally has an extra bank holiday a year – nine compared to eight.
The English and Scottish Bank Holidays are mostly the same, but the Scots don’t treat Easter Monday as a public holiday; and the August bank holiday is usually earlier in the month. However, the Scots don’t usually work on January 2 (the Scots’ New Year or Hogmanay celebrations last for an extra day) nor on November 30 (St Andrew’s Day, in honour of the country’s patron saint).
The Natural Advantages
There are plenty of other, non-financial reasons to move to Scotland as well – for instance, there’s the stunning scenery of highlands and islands. Inland, there are two national parks, both with plenty of wildlife; Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was created in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park the following year.
Nature-lovers may be able to spot red, roe and sika deer, as well as pine martens and Scottish wildcats. Offshore whales, dolphins, seals puffins and many other species can be found in Scottish waters.
And, if you fancy a mountaineering challenge, then the Grampian range includes the UK’s two highest peaks, Ben Nevis (1,345 m or 4,413 ft above sea level) and Ben Macdui (1,309 m or 4,295 ft).
The Transport Network
You might think that parts of Scotland are inaccessible. However, the country has an excellent network of roads (there are 10 motorways) and a comprehensive public transport system. In addition to the four main commercial airports (there are two in Glasgow, plus one apiece in Edinburgh and Aberdeen) there is also a network of smaller facilities covering the more remote areas, run by the Highland and Island Airports Limited. There are regular ferry services to the outlying islands as well.
Removals to Scotland with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help with removals to Scotland – not just if you are considering moving house to one of the major cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, but the more remote areas as well. Whichever part of the country you are considering moving to, call us on 01379 855203. Remember we offer free online quotations and video surveys, and can also help with your packing and unpacking too.
Four Top Home Trends of 2023
When moving home the prospect of decorating a blank canvas is exciting for many people. The journey to creating your dream home can be a long one, from buying the furniture, to painting the walls – and gathering ideas and inspiration from Pinterest.
Pinterest is one of the largest sites online for browsing aesthetic photographs and DIY decor ideas, making it incredibly useful when settling on design ideas for your new home! Pinterest is also ideally placed to predict the trends for the upcoming year from sharp increases in searches. So here East Anglia removal company Hamiltons Removals bring you the top four home trends of 2023, as anticipated by Pinterest Predicts.
Rainscapes
One of the largest trends for 2023 promises to be what Pinterest aptly names ‘rainscapes’. This trend centres around the conservation of water, and it is driven by both climate change and the heatwaves increasingly experienced. The trend is led by the generations known as Boomers and Generation X (born between 1965-80) and is described by Pinterest as ‘natural ways to make their homes more sustainable’ – highlighting the continued popularity of sustainability and consideration for our planet.
Pinterest reported phrases such as ‘drought-tolerant landscape design’, ‘rainwater harvesting architecture’ and ‘drought resistant plants’ are up by as much as +385%. Plus, a quick Google search reveals article upon article on the best drought-resistant plants, all posted within the last year or so.
This trend can be seen as a natural continuation of green living, as the traditional lawn is also in decline. Instead, more and more are choosing to have a garden of wildflowers, similarly showing an inclination towards protecting natural environments, boosting biodiversity and encouraging local wildlife to thrive.
One aspect of this trend is conserving water – think rainwater harvesting, rain barrels, and other similar measures. This is likely to become a permanent feature in our homes as the effects of climate change continue, resulting in hotter, drier summers.
The second part of this trend comes in the form of drought-hardy plants, often taking inspiration from Mediterranean-style gardens due to their ability to thrive in the heat. Looking to implement this trend in your new home? Plants such as jasmine, lavender, coneflower, and of course succulents and cacti, are all great options to get started. The effects of climate change and rising costs are certainly considerations to keep in mind when planning your new dream home, and this trend offers a great sustainable way to garden.
It’s not just outside the home that the need for water conservation is paramount. ‘Chance of showers’ is also trending on Pinterest Predicts; and this refers not to the weather forecast but to the need to save water by using luxurious spa-like showers rather than large baths. This also helps cut water consumption within the home.
The Hipstoric Home
Forget the mass-produced Ikea and think eclectic vintage! The next trend predicted by Pinterest is that of the ‘Hipstoric Home’. The idea is to combine vintage with modern, mixing antiques and newer pieces together. Often, these antiques are inherited items with an extra depth of meaning and emotion behind them. The ultimate aim behind this particular trend is that of uniqueness. As Pinterest puts it, people are ‘rejecting the mass-produced and re-imagining vintage and hand-me-down pieces’. The trend is so popular that searches for ‘eclectic interior design vintage’ are up +850%!
Phrases such as ‘mixing modern and antique furniture’ and ‘antique room aesthetic’ are likewise up by as much as +530%. Once again, this trend reflects a desire for sustainability through the rejection of mass-produced fast fashion items – even for the home!
Mush-rooms and Weirdcore
Similarly in the push for a unique feel within the home, a trend named ‘mush-rooms’ is rapidly rising in popularity. Behind this trend is the growing popularity of ‘weirdcore’ – in lieu of neutral and plain living spaces and clean lines, funky prints and bizarre objects are taking centre stage in the homes of both Boomers and Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012). Searches on the site for ‘fantasy mushroom art’, ‘funky house décor’ and ‘weirdcore bedroom’ are up by as much as +695%. On Instagram the hashtag ‘#weirdcore’ has been used on almost 971, 000 posts! Pinterest reasons that “during lockdowns, people needed new ways to express themselves creatively without leaving home” – enter fantastical, maximalist homes used as one large canvas of self-expression.
The Home Front
Lastly, 2023 is looking like the year for entrances to receive the care and attention they deserve. Named the ‘home front’ by Pinterest, this trend has seen rising searches for front of house decor. For instance, searches for ‘front hallway decor ideas’ are up by +190% and ‘camper van awning’ by +115%. Sprucing up the entrance way to your new home can be the key for a good first impression and providing a warm welcome to new visitors – luckily, with the rise of popularity for this small and relatively cheap trend, it’s easy to find inspiration for your new space online!
Influences such as climate change and multiple lockdowns are clear behind all these trends, and overall sustainability and self-expression seems to be the call of the day or, more specifically, the year! For those moving home, will you be trying any of these trends in 2023?
Moving Home with Hamiltons Removals
Before you start decorating your blank canvas, you have to move home first. East Anglia removal company Hamiltons Removals can help you move to all parts of the UK and overseas.
We can make kick-starting the whole process very simple; you can either opt for one of our online quotes, or we can guide you through a video survey. And if you need haven’t decided what items to keep and what to throw away in your new home, we also have two secure self-storage facilities in Norfolk – at Harleston and Aldeby. For more information, follow this link.