We’ve all had dreams of winning the lottery and splashing out on a new car, a holiday or a new place to call home. But imagine what you could do if you had $1bn to your name? Would you blow it all on one extravagant property or buy ten?
Here at Big Yellow we’ve had a look at some of the most valuable homes in the world to put into perspective just what kind of properties that much cash can buy (we’ve saved the best till last).
First on our most impressive list is…
The Rybolovlev Estate – $95 million (£59.6m)
The most expensive home ever fought over in a divorce case is The Rybolovlev Estate. This 33,000 square foot oceanfront mansion has 18 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms and was originally up for sale for $125million. Previous owners include Donald Trump.
Silicon Valley Mansion — $100 million (£62.8m)
The Silicon Valley Mansion is the most expensive single-family home in the US valued at $100 million. With 29 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, an indoor AND an outdoor pool, this is a house you’d never run out of space in.
The Pinnacle — $155 million (£97.3m)
Owned by Tim Blixseth (a real estate developer), The Pinnacle in Montana is unique for two reasons:
• It has a private chair lift directly from the house to a nearby ski resort
• Its garden is a full ski resort
Surely if you had this kind of money the first thing you would buy is your own ski resort?
The Hearst Mansion — $165 Million (£103.6m)
The Hearst Mansion was used in the film, The Godfather and John F Kennedy is said to have spent his honeymoon here. It boasts three swimming pools, 29 bedrooms, a movie theatre and even a disco.
We’ve seen the most fought after, those with a ski lift and even of those used in The Godfather. This next home really is the most impressive (and most expensive) home in the world.
Antilla – $1,000,000,000 (£628.2m)
Located in Mumbai, this $1bn dollar home challenges pretty much everything you’d expect about “what is possible in a home” and “what is possible for architecture.” The 27-story house has six floors dedicated to parking, a health level (with a Jacuzzi, gym, and “ice room”), a ballroom level, several floors of bedrooms and bathrooms. It even has a four-story garden.
Now not everyone has this amount of money and space floating around. However you can quickly make a mansion out of your home by de-cluttering. Store the items you don’t use and make some space for extravagance.
Visit Big Yellow Self Storage for more information about how they can help you make the most out of your space from as little as £5 a week.
Who lives in a house like this?
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012
Did you know that some people will go to extreme lengths to protect their shoes?
Friday, August 3rd, 2012
While most of us are content to store our shoes in cupboards and on racks, that is just not an option for some people. When your selection grows to thousands even these small items of clothing become a challenge. Here are a few collections that put the average joe’s shoe cupboard to shame.
The Northampton Museum is home to the world’s largest shoe collection. The town famous for its shoe and boot industry houses over 50,000 pairs at the museum. The collection includes famous pairs such as Queen Victoria’s wedding shoes and the Vivienne Westwood shoes supermodel Naomi Campbell famously took a tumble in.
Fashion icon Anna dello Russo has admitted to having a collection of over 4000 pairs of shoes! The editor at large for Vogue Japan is no messy shopaholic however, making sure that every item is catalogued, perfumed and safely stored. As she is rarely pictured in the same outfit twice, this collection is sure to keep growing.
In the world of retail, the Shoe Galleries at Selfridges win the title of world’s largest shoe department. With the space an impressive 35,000 sq feet in size, it can hold 55,000 pairs of shoes easily rivaling the Northampton Museum! Showcasing 120 brands and eleven designer boutiques, (Louboutin and Chanel to name a few) this is a must visit for any shoe addict.
Whilst women are the usual suspects for outlandish shoe collections, Joshua Mueller proves that men love shoes just as much. He owns the largest collection of Converse shoes, consisting of 1,546 different pairs. He goes to great lengths to keep them looking their best, wearing plastic bags on his feet in order to keep them clean when visiting dirty places. With this amount he could wear a different pair every day for over four years!
If you’ve got a collection that almost rivals these and your boudoir is over brimming then why not consider a locker for your seasonal shoes at Big Yellow. Storage starts from just £5 a month.
Space-saving gadgets
Friday, April 27th, 2012The April showers have hit us hard and fast, which surely means summer is round the corner? Who knows, but it seems about the right time to oust out the winter stragglers and spring clean the clutter.
Often when we try to de-clutter our homes, we find ourselves buying storage boxes and other compartments for a neater, more organised scene. However the result is much the same in that we still are as cluttered in terms of space, but with a tidy setting of organised mess.
Here at Big Yellow, we’ve been spying around to find some cunning gadgets to store away the winter warmers, the rainy reminders and the things you simply want to keep to yourself, away from prying eyes!
Great Space Savers
First up, is something worthy for an old school James Bond, from Secret Storage Books. Even if you’re an avid bookworm, there’s always room at the end of the bookshelf for a secret binder. No, unfortunately this won’t open up a secret tunnel to Blofeld’s lair, but it can hide your secret or most precious items: your future wife’s engagement ring, the key for the secret tunnel to Blofeld’s lair or simply your keys and precious cash.
Storage compartments in your bed seem to be a necessity these days, but when your bedroom is small, the drawers on the side of the bed are not easily accessible. Take a look at Adam Dachis’ excellent, secret storage creation using a bedspring storage unit from IKEA.
Now here’s a trick that’s taking the world by storm, the infamous Vacuum Compressed Bags. When you’ve created a hidden storage unit, trying to cram as many items in as possible is tasking. The Vacuum Bag is simple – fill them up with your winter clothes, suck out the spare air and there you have it, a compressed flat shape bag which can gives up to three times more space. This will go perfectly in the hidden storage under your bed.
If you’re really one for surprises, then you should build your own secret storage using Denise Nyland’s step by step guide. In just two hours, you can have your winter goods stored out of sight without using up any space within your room.
Of course, when it comes to squeezing your snowboards, skis and other large winter goods into your walls, you may find it is a task not worth the hassle. So find out where your nearest Big Yellow Self Storage is at www.bigyellow.co.uk and get it stored with us! Here at Big yellow we, offer you that space to rent from as little as £5 a week.
World Records – Bizarre Collections
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Everyone’s collected something at some point in their life. Sometimes finding your passion is as easy as looking around and saving the item that has always fascinated you. But, have you ever wondered what some of weirdest and largest collections people have created? We’ve compiled a list of the wackiest and largest collections from around the world that are all record breakers. How do your collections measure up?
1. Navel Fluff – Australian, Graham Barker has been collecting his own belly button lint since 1984, categorizing it by years in 4 jars. It all started when he wanted to find out how much fluff a person produces and how much it would take to fill a cushion. Barker plans to continue growing his collection, the largest in the world, until he’s no longer physically able to collect his own fluff.
2. Beer Steins – In Germany, farmer, Heinrich Kath, has the world’s largest collection of beer steins. Even though he doesn’t drink beer, Kath has over 20,000 steins since he started collecting in 1997.
3. Rubber Ducks – Valli Hammer has a collection of over 2,400 rubber ducks and no two look alike. She started collecting when she stumbled upon a few rubber ducks that belonged to her son, and from there her collection grew quickly.
4. Joker Playing Cards – The world’s largest collection of Joker playing cards belongs to Italian, Donato De Santis. After inheriting 2,000 cards from magician Fernando Riccardi, his collection has grown to over 8,500 jokers.
5. Airplane Sick Bags – Strange as it may seem, unique airsickness bags printed by different airlines have become highly sought-after collectors’ items in the age of the Internet and eBay. Holland’s Niek Vermeulen holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection, consisting of 5,468 different ones representing over a thousand different airlines. He uses photograph albums for storage.
6. Toothpaste – Dentist, Val Kolpakov, toothpaste is not something to be overlooked lightly. The American first learned about another toothpaste collector online in 2002 and was intrigued. Kalpakov started asking friends abroad to send him tubes of toothpaste from their respective countries and then scoured eBay. To date, Kolpakov has around 1,800 tubes of toothpaste and toothpowder, some donated by visitors to his website. He achieved his ultimate goal in 2010, being named Guinness Book of World Records holder for the largest toothpaste collection.
7. Celebrity Hair – If celebrity signatures and pictures aren’t good enough for you, what are you to do? John Reznikoff decided to start collecting celebrity hair instead. His collection includes celebrities who’ve been dead for many years already with Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe, as well as Edgar Allan Poe, and Abraham Lincoln. His collection is a part of Guinness Book World Records for being the largest and also the most valuable hair collection to date.
8. Banana Labels – To some banana labels are nothing but garbage, but to America Becky Martz, they’re special. Her collection of banana labels boasts over 10,000 labels She first became interested in banana stickers when she noticed an amusing one that read, “The Perfect Stocking Stuffer,” on a Chiquita banana. Since that incident around 1991, Martz has avidly been collecting banana labels from brands around the world.
Collecting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby; in many cases it can even be free. Whether your collections resemble memories of a trip, your childhood, or a hobby that spans across the years, Big Yellow Self Storage can help you store your collectables from only £7 a week, clearing up space around your home for you to enjoy!
Big Yellow Bramall Lane win a Sheffield Telegraph Environment Award
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011Big Yellow picked up the Business award for outstanding environmental and sustainable innovations and improvements at this year’s Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards last night.
In its fifth year, the event was truly inspiring with guest speakers including Paul Hudson, the BBC Look North weather reporter, discussing issues relating to climate change and changing the public’s opinion.
Big Yellow was up against some tough competition including Meadow Hall Shopping centre for their outstanding recycling system.
Hannah Jones, Big Yellow employee said “The judges were really impressed with Big Yellow’s commitment to the environment and the fact that we have a green feature in a large number of our stores. They also commented on how passionate the staff were about the company’s corporate social responsibility and in particular Bramall Lane store which has encouraged local wildlife, flora and fauna by planting hundreds of trees at the rear of the building.”
The award is now proudly on display in the reception of Bramall Lane.
Cash in on your spare room next June to earn up to £1000!
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Are you finding it hard during the downturn in the economy? Fancy going on holiday next year, but you can’t afford it? Well the answer could come from your spare room. Simply by letting it out during the world’s biggest sporting event next year, you could increase your income by up to £1,000!
So how do you go about doing it?
Michael Holmes, presenter of Channel 5’s Britain’s Best Home and editor-in-chief of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, Real Homes magazine and Period Living magazine, believes that by clearing out your spare room and renting a self storage unit for as little as £5 a day, 5.4 million homeowners, who have a additional space, in the UK could be cashing in on local events such as the famous Edinburgh Hogmanay, Oxford Literary Fair, the Grand National in Aintree or the PGA Golf Championships in Surrey.
He explains: “For those who don’t feel comfortable sharing their home with a lodger on an ongoing basis, short lets for special events can prove highly lucrative.
“For a property located close to a major event, such as those in Edinburgh, across London or Liverpool, it can make real sense to clear out the spare room or rooms, put items into self storage and let it out for the duration of the event. Self storage units provide a flexible, easy and clean way to clear out the clutter for a short period of time and the potential rental income will far outweigh the self storage costs.”
“However, homeowners should check potential guests, take references and look at getting paid up front, so there is minimal risk in letting out a room on a short term basis. For people who are keen to let their home out in its entirety for the duration of an event, locking their valuables away or putting them into self storage is vital.”
Here’s Michael’s top tips for renting out your room on a short term basis:
1: Renting a room during popular local events can help boost your household income and help towards your mortgage and bills, plus there are tax benefits too – you can earn up to £4,250 tax free for a furnished room
2: You won’t have to register as a landlord, but you need to tell your mortgage company and home insurers. Also you must make sure your home meets safety regulations – ideally with smoke alarms and a gas safety certificate
3: Store your personal items in a flexible self storage room then you don’t have to worry about anything going missing. Providers such as Big Yellow offer smaller rooms from as little as £7 a day for a little as seven days
4: Make sure the room you are renting out appeals to the right sort of paying guests. Take good photographs to help with marketing and have a clear idea of who you want to share with
5: Find potential guests through online sites such as http://www.2012homerentals.com or www.eventfulstays.com. You can also register with an agency such as www.rentduringthegames.com
6: Interview candidates over the telephone first and check their work references. Do some research online by checking social media sites to make sure everything rings true
7: Use your instincts and always take references, such as family, employer and previous landlords and check them
8: Discuss and agree the key ground rules from the outset, covering the following: rent; payment terms; rules on guests/sharing; access to other rooms/privacy; rules on tidiness/cleaning; general noise; bathroom and kitchen arrangements; parking
9: Request half the rent before the tenant arrives so that if things go wrong you have protection. Ask for the remainder on the last day of the rental period
10: Treat your lodger with the respect you would like them to give you. Sharing can be difficult at times but if you are considerate and communicate, it can work very well for everyone and be a great financial solution
So why not have a think about releasing some extra cash from your spare room next year and enjoy that holiday that you’ve always dreamed of!
Michael Holmes chats through his top tips
Antiques of tomorrow: old computers and phones
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
So you’ve discovered your old coat from many, many winters ago in the back of the cupboard. You try it on, just to see if it still fits; you put your hand in the pocket and pull out a large, brick shaped object. On closer inspection, you discover it is your old mobile phone, the one from long before the days of touch screen and cameras. Well did you know that you could potentially get a rather large amount of money for that old ‘brick’?
When we think of antiques, we usually think of precious pieces of china or family heirlooms passed down from generations. We don’t often associate the word with phones and computers. However, an expert at the BBC show ‘The Antiques Roadshow’ believes that future generations will be bringing their old mobiles on to the show, particularly those that have models such as the first version of the flip screen phone.
Did you know that the very first Apple Macintosh computer was sold in 2008 for a rather comfortable $8,260? Who’d have thought the phones and computers that we now laugh at will one day soon be able to make us a small fortune?
The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X was the world’s first mobile phone and went on sale in 1983, so anyone with one of those knocking around would be wise to hold onto it. Even though it may just be in the home gathering dust, it will also be gathering a small fortune.
The companies that produce these products are innovating at an alarming rate to keep on top of the game; remember the days when phones didn’t have colour screens? Or before computers could enable you to talk to other people…face to face? Is innovation the reason these products are fast becoming the antiques of the future?
We know these objects aren’t small (that’s part of their charm) so you may need somewhere to store your future antique? Why not leave it with us at Big Yellow Storage where it can spend its days getting more and more valuable.
What other modern day products do you think will become antiques of the future? Why not head over to our Big Yellow page on Facebook and tell us your ideas.
Image courtesy of Laura Blankenship
Did You Know that keeping a clean house can reduce your allergy symptoms?
Friday, August 5th, 2011Did you know that you can control and even reduce your allergy symptoms just by having a clean house? There are an estimated 5.1 million people in the UK that suffer from asthma which is most commonly triggered by an allergy to the house dust mite which reside in the buildup of dust in your home.
In order to illuminate these, use allergy proof covers on cushions and bed linen or replace all carpets and rugs with wooden floorings. A simple and less expensive solution is to clean using a damp or static-charge cloth so that dust is not just stirred but removed completely-doing this regularly will minimise the opportunity for dust to gather in your home. Do away with large unwanted furniture and air rooms when cleaning to reduce the humidity of the room preventing damp and mold growth by decreasing the number of pollutants in the air.
Visit www.bigyellow.co.uk to find out more about how self storage can help reduce your allergy symptoms.
Did you know – Garden Furniture Storage
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011We are already half way through summer, and the party season is in full swing, with garden furniture coming out at every opportunity. However, what with the disappointing weather it’s nearly that time again for the age old question of where to store the garden furniture.
The problem with the traditional methods of storage such as the garden shed, or just left covered in the corner of the garden is that when you come back to it next summer, it is likely that you will find it covered in rust or mould, and that it has to be thrown out.
Big Yellow Self Storage could prove to be an economical way to store your garden furniture, rather than replacing it each year. Our Self Storage units will guarantee prevention of rust or mould developing as each room is dry, clean and safe from undesirable weather conditions.
If you are worried about the costs of the length of storage for a year, just check our website for the latest deals as you can get discounts for renting the unit in certain blocks of time, and there is no maximum time limit either.
If it is just your garden furniture you want to store we can accommodate for this as our rooms come in a range of sizes starting from 10 sq foot going all the way up to 500 sq foot. You also have the option to increase the unit space if you find you have more items to add in the future.
Please visit www.bigyellow.co.uk/quote-and-reserve/ to get a free and quick online quote, and let us help you save your garden furniture, and some pennies!
Did You Know – the average person makes £150 online?
Monday, July 11th, 2011Whether it’s things that you no longer need, can’t fit into or gifts you can’t return, online auctions are a great way to earn money from the comfort of your own home.
You can earn anything from a few pounds to hundreds of thousands, depending on how much you have to sell. Platinum power sellers on eBay for example, make sales of over £15,000 every month. To shift that much stock however, you would need a serious amount of personal storage space!
Vintage items and used designer brands in good condition are always in demand. Auction on eBay and you could have the money within a few days. It’s not only on eBay that you can sell your wares. If it has a bar code then Amazon is a good bet – especially books.
Another quick win would be to get cash back for your phone. If you’ve recently upgraded your mobile phone, sell it online or recycle it and get cash back. Iphones are valued highly, but can alternatively be put in storage and sold as vintage in a decade or so.
For more ideas on how storage can help your cash flow please visit www.bigyellow.co.uk
