Hayley Donigan, Author at Pocket

Resident making a coffee in the kitchen of her Pocket home.

How to save money on gas and electric bills [tips for first time buyers]

December 1, 2022December 7, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The UK’s rising cost of living has affected us all, but if you’re a first time buyer, you might feel particularly keen to keep your finances in check. If you’re wondering how to save money on gas and electric bills, there are many simple ways to reduce your outgoings, particularly by living more sustainably.

Our residents are first time buyers on middle incomes, so we know how important it is to them to make savings wherever possible. Buying a new build home is a great start, and by making an energy savings plan, you can reduce your bills and rest assured that you’re taking measures to live more efficiently and cut down on unnecessary costs.

Read on to find out our tips for saving money on your bills. They may seem small but can make a big difference over time, so start now to let the pennies begin to add up!

The ultimate guide to indoor gardening for beginners

October 10, 2022November 15, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Indoor plants are brilliant for our physical and mental wellbeing. Having nature in our homes connects us with the outside world and helps filter the air in our home. Therefore, learning how to be an indoor gardener is useful for all of us, as we learn how to make our home both beautiful and better for our health.

Here we offer a guide on how to begin creating your indoor garden and how to make sure it flourishes.

Haule’s tips for furnishing your first home with vintage finds

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

This Second Hand September, we’ve teamed up with Haule, an online marketplace for vintage and second hand homeware, to talk about furnishing your first home. Second Hand September was created by Oxfam in 2019 and has inspired thousands of people to shop in a way that is kinder to people and the planet.

We invited Haule to give some advice on furnishing your first home using vintage and second hand items. Read on to find out what they have to say.

A blog by Haule

The benefits of buying a home (right now)

August 16, 2022September 9, 2022 Hayley Donigan 1 Comment

Buying a home is an investment in your future – but when you do it for the first time, it can feel really daunting. Considering the doom and gloom we hear every day on the news, it may seem particularly risky to take that next step. That’s why we asked Censeo Financial, our recommended Independent Mortgage Advisor, their thoughts on the benefits of buying a home right now, rather than waiting.

A blog by Censeo Financial

Pocket Living open day: View a Pocket home!

July 19, 2022July 25, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

You may or may not be familiar with the Pocket model – we sell well-designed, compact homes across London for 20% below market value to help first time buyers get onto that ever-elusive property ladder.

Generally, we hold viewings for hopeful buyers who meet our eligibility criteria; however, for the first time, we’re opening things up and holding a Pocket Living open day for anyone who is interested in what we do.

On Saturday 30 July 2022, our flagship show home in central London will be open to anyone who wants to peek inside a Pocket home and learn more about buying one. No need to register with us – just book a ticket to reserve your space at our Pocket Living open day!

Our friendly sales team will be on hand to answer all your questions about what we do and our current and upcoming schemes. It’s going to be a good one, so don’t miss out!

Please note – tickets for this open day are now sold out. Register with us to receive info on our next open days!

To stay up to date with Pocket homes you would be eligible for, create a My Pocket account. You can also head to our gallery to watch the stories of city makers just like you who made homeownership in London a reality.

UK’s rising cost of living [and what it means for first time buyers]

June 6, 2022September 20, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The UK’s rising cost of living has made for some alarming headlines, so it’s no surprise that it has sparked anxiety in many aspiring first time buyers.

But is it all doom and gloom? We’re going to demystify the UK’s recent interest rate increases and explain why now could actually be a good time to buy your first home.

It’s our job to get middle earning Londoners onto the property ladder, no matter how tough it is out there. Read on to find out why the rising cost of living shouldn’t deter you from becoming a homeowner.

Pocket eligibility: Who’s eligible for a Pocket home?

April 5, 2022September 9, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Pocket homes are sold at a 20% discount, but they’re 100% ownership. That’s why we get asked a lot – ‘What exactly is the catch?’.

There is no catch – but you do need to be eligible to purchase one of our Pocket homes. That’s because our mission to make sure we’re helping middle earning Londoners (we call them city makers) onto the property ladder.

Read on to find out about the Pocket eligibility criteria.

Interview with former Pocket resident and healthy buildings expert Ben Channon

March 22, 2022June 6, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The way spaces are designed can have a huge impact on the mental health of the people that use them. Whether it’s having access to the outdoors or room to work from home, promoting wellness in our developments is top of our agenda.

To explore what it’s like to live in a Pocket home, we spoke to former Pocket resident Ben Channon about what makes a building ‘healthy’ and how we can improve the wellness of our residents. Ben works for a consultancy called Ekkist, which focuses on enhancing human health and wellbeing through design.

First time buyer mortgage deposits: the ultimate guide

January 23, 2022March 29, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Did you know that a deposit is the biggest thing you need to save for in the home buying process? This can seem a bit daunting if you’re a first time buyer, especially if you’re not sure how big of a deposit you need or how to save for a deposit.

We’ve put together the ultimate guide on first time buyer mortgage deposits to get you on your way to homeownership, written especially with middle income earners in mind. Covering why a deposit is so important and what to do if you haven’t saved enough, this guide will help you put together a plan for saving for your first home.

Sustainable developments – Harbard Close IG11

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Our design team is clever – they understand that sustainability goes hand in hand with creating quality homes for modern living. Minimising waste and maximising efficiency is at the heart of what they do; they focus on inventive use of space and efficient planning so that real value is returned to our buyers.

Each of our developments is completely unique, with the team spending a lot of time getting the eco credentials up to scratch – from the methods of construction used to the paint on the walls. Our latest development in Barking, Harbard Close IG11, is a great example of a sustainable housing development in London. Read on to find out more about it.