The difference in price can be very significant. Yet provided the movement has stopped and the building is safe, the price difference is a reflection of perception rather than reality. In a buyer’s market the PUP’s perceived lack of ’saleability’ can be a powerful negotiating tool to lower its price even more.
However, a major issue a PUP-buyer will probably have to face is insurance. Many companies won’t want to touch a PUP. So how to avoid the problems?

First find a specialist insurer willing to consider a PUP. Obviously it’s vital to establish the cause of the movement - the insurer will only consider the property if there’s proof that no more movement is likely and that any remedial work required has been completed. Historic subsidence, perhaps caused decades ago by settling when the house was first built, shouldn’t be an issue. On the other hand, subsidence caused by ongoing external factors, such as quarrying, drainage or dehydration, will put off any insurer, since there’s no way to predict future damage.

Before even considering the property the insurer will require a structural report - but provided they are happy with the report’s findings, they should be able to offer cover.
It’s not sensible to buy a PUP without proof that the movement affecting the property has stopped.   However, for anyone who already owns such a property and needs insurance for it, all is not lost. Specialists like Flux may be able to offer cover that specifically excludes damage caused by the ongoing problem. It’s not ideal but it’s a lot better than no insurance at all.

The bottom line? Flux’s Julie Carter sums things up: "In the current market, provided you are cautious, acquiring the right PUP needn’t be buying a pup - and it can be an absolute bargain."

Adrian Flux aims to offer cheaper home insurance and has a range of policies for homes, contents, including specialist schemes for hard to insure properties such as thatched homes, underpinned buildings and those at risk of flooding. For information call the Flux Household Insurance hotline on 08700 772266, email household@adrianflux.co.uk or visit the website, www.adrianflux.co.uk, and click on the relevant button under the ‘Home Insurance’ section.

The only female driver in Porsche Club Championship ‘08 secures a sponsorship deal with Flux

Sarah is competing in the Porsche Club Championship for the first time. She’s the only woman in the field, so is her choice of colour a provocative move? "Maybe it’s a bit of a shock," she laughs. "But it’s a great colour and the ‘pink panther’ style really stands out - it’s actually the original Porsche Rubystone Red. The colour also matches Flux Babes’ pink lady logo, which is a nice tie-in with my sponsor. 

"I don’t think it’s provocative. At first glance some people may think it’s funny, but fortunately the stop watch doesn’t lie - and there’s no disguising ability in a one-marque championship such as this."

Sarah is no stranger to the pits as she’s raced for three seasons in Britcar Production Saloons, having started her career in the inaugural Formula Women Series in 2004. She also works in motorsport and is team manager for Rupert Lewin Racing Ltd.

As you might expect in this predominantly male environment, Sarah is used to the chauvinistic remarks. But she says it fires her up: "The more they wind me up, the faster I go."
The tie-up with Flux is a natural one. Not only does the company insure classic, performance and modified cars, it’s also keen to attract more business from female drivers and is offering cheaper car insurance for women. Says Sarah: "I like their approach to the motoring enthusiast - it’s more ‘yes, we can do that,’ as opposed to the ’sorry, computer says no’ that you often get from insurers.

"Plus, Flux is a popular brand - people see the logo and come up to me to chat about them - so having them as sponsor is a real benefit."

Can she win the Championship? "I’m still getting used to racing a 30 year old car - it’s a steep learning curve - and there are guys on the circuit who have years of experience in them. But I am going to get results and will be beating myself up about it after each race if I don’t."

Adrian Flux aims to offer cheap car insurance quotes and has a huge range of policies for the motoring enthusiast. For details contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk,

Sarah Bennett-Baggs on men vs. women in motorsport:
"It’s a male-dominated environment. Some men find it hard to take orders from a woman and of course you have to put up with stupid jokes and wisecracks. I’ve heard them all sooooo many times I could write the bloody book.

"Women racing drivers have to drive better than the average male, otherwise we just get walked all over. On the track there is an element of bravery required so this is certainly not a job for the fainthearted - you can’t be afraid to assert yourself. Luckily I don’t have a problem with that!  

"Racing is a great release of frustration. The more wound up I get by the wisecracks, the faster I tend to go. Luckily I have excellent support from my partner. He’s seen the abuse I get first hand, and he helps me vent my frustrations - and get my revenge - out on the track."  

Attractions just announced include:
The Paul Swift precision driving team - burning rubber, j-turns, doughnuts, some serious drifting and ludicrously high speed parallel parking. The team will be performing twice during the day.

The FluX Factor Babes - the hottest girl team gets hotter as new Flux Babes make their debut at Rockingham. The new girls will be winners of the FluX Factor competition (vote for your favourites now at www.fluxbabes.co.uk) and they’ll be handing out special Show gift bags stuffed with mugs, pens, posters and other goodies.  

The Adrian Flux Games Arena - featuring a giant Scalextric rig plus all sorts of fast and furious activities like Wii, penalty shootouts, table footie and table tennis. The Arena is in the garages on the Inner Paddock and Flux is offering some great prizes for the highest scores.
Free popcorn - as much as you can eat, courtesy of the Flux Babes’ popcorn cart. You’ll find it in the Inner Paddock Trade Village.

Meanwhile Show sponsor Adrian Flux Insurance Services has announced that it will be offering special French Car Show insurance discounts. Flux specialises in performance and modified cars and promises that the deals will mean visitors will be able to get extra-extra-cheap car insurance at the Show. Flux will even be able to arrange instant cover, on the spot, if the insurance renewal is due within the following two months. 

Plus there’ll be all the usual ‘French fun of the fair’ with maxed-up motors, club areas, traders, track events, competitions and the opportunity to drive round the Rockingham circuit, including its 150mph-banked curves.
Tickets for the Adrian Flux French Car Show cost £15 on the gate, or £12.50 in advance (children under 12 free). For more information email sales@frenchcarshow.co.uk, call 0845 838 0824, visit www.frenchcarshow.co.uk or catch the latest news on the Adrian Flux French Car Show blog at http://frenchcarshow.blogspot.com

For details about special deals and cheap insurance for French cars, contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage on www.adrianflux.co.uk

The Flux Babes website will also carry information on the Adrian Flux French Car Show - visit www.fluxbabes.co.uk (if you vote in the FluX Factor competition you could win Show tickets and a SatNav system).

A recent survey claimed that it often costs more than twice as much to insure a modified car compared to an ordinary one. ‘Rubbish’ says Adrian Flux Insurance Services. Flux should know: it’s the biggest insurer of modified cars in the UK.
"It’s an urban myth that modifications always hike up insurance," says Flux’s Gerry Bucke. "It’s partly perpetrated by those insurers who don’t like them because they don’t appear on their computer screen.

"But if you talk to any insurer that understands the modified business, the extra cost will be a reasonable reflection of any extra risk - depending on the modification, the difference can be minimal."

Modifying cars is getting much more popular, particularly amongst younger drivers. "It’s not all about performance and boy racers," says Gerry Bucke. "Cosmetic mods make your car individual." In fact, the single most popular modification on Flux’s books is fitting alloy wheels.

The original survey, from confused.com, claimed that owners of modified cars could expect to pay an average of 139% more for their cover. Flux says the figure is very misleading, because the extra cost depends entirely on what the modifications are.

The confused.com story claimed that a 20-year-old male with no claims or convictions to his name, driving a VW Golf 1.5l, would be expected to pay almost three times (189%) more for his car insurance if he chose to add modifications. "This is simple scare-mongering," says Gerry Bucke. "If he added alloy wheels, his premium would probably only go up by about 5%."

"Working out a modification’s effect on the premium is a matter of balancing the risks," he explains. "Typically, if you add a cosmetic modification then the premium would probably go up to reflect the cost to replace it. If you enhance the performance of the car, for example with a chip or turbo, then the premium would be likely to increase by the same percentage as the performance. So if the turbo added 10% to your car’s bhp, you should expect to pay about 10% more for your insurance."

People who modify their car need to tell their insurer or they won’t be covered. But if the insurer starts talking about a 189% price increase for a set of alloys, then shop around. "A specialist broker will be able to sort out insurance at a reasonable cost," Gerry Bucke confirms.
"If you’re into modifying your motor, don’t be put off by the scaremongers."

Adrian Flux aims to offer cheaper modified car insurance and has a huge range of policies for the motoring enthusiast. For details contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage onwww.adrianflux.co.uk

West Norfolk’s budding version of Lewis Hamilton (Jacques is a huge fan of the F1 star) only began racing karts just last year. However, earlier this year his obvious talent helped net a sponsorship deal from InFlux, the glossy car magazine published by Adrian Flux Insurance Services of East Winch.

Jacques will be competing in the MSA British Cadet Kart Championship this year (where Hamilton once honed his talent). In the club event at Beccles’ Ellough Park Raceway, on Sunday March 30th, he held his nerve through three heats and came in third in the cadets’ final.

"It’s fantastic that Jacques has done so well in such a short space of time," says Gerry Bucke of Adrian Flux. "Flux has a history of supporting motoring talent - helping a youngster develop, and seeing such quick results, is a really worthwhile use of our sponsorship budget.

"Plus InFlux has just launched a new website (www.influx.co.uk), so the higher Jacques’ profile, the better we like it!"

Conditions on the day were sunny and windy and Jacques’ mum Claudia was delighted by her son’s success in the 14-lap final. "Getting used to seeing him hurtle down the straights at 60 miles an hour hasn’t been easy," she admits. "But seeing him up on the podium, pleased as punch, was fantastic."

Claudia says that the InFlux sponsorship has been hugely important - not only for the financial support, but also because having a big name sponsor has given him a boost within the sport. "People see that InFlux is willing to back him, so they take him more seriously," she says.  

InFlux cover areas as diverse as modified cars, bikes, concepts, superbrands, modifieds, luxury hounds and oily-rag enthusiasts, legends and rebels, drifting and classics. The new online version complements the glossy magazine with loads of extras including video and downloads. It’s at www.influx.co.uk

Find out more about Jacques Morley and follow his progress at www.jacquesmorley.com

Sorting insurance can be time consuming, especially if you have unusual vehicles or a property that isn’t ’standard’. Flux Private Clients is a new VIP insurance service for people of high net worth or with no spare time. Launched by the Adrian Flux Insurance Group, the service is designed to manage individuals’ insurance needs, including vehicle and home insurance, offering an ‘umbrella’ policy that can be tailored to each person’s circumstances.

"Flux Private Clients will manage the several insurances associated with a person’s vehicles and properties," says Julie Carter of Flux. "It gives them one point of contact, one renewal date, one premium to cover everything - and a personal manager to look after their interests."

A bespoke service doesn’t necessarily make it expensive, adds Carter. "If we’re looking after a family’s cars and properties, the total premium is likely to be some thousands of pounds," she says. "That’s a huge incentive to manage it carefully. We’re dealing with over a hundred different insurers, which not only gives us the opportunity to cover just about any risk, it also means we can access the best prices."
One area where Flux scores over its competitors is in its ability to look after a wide range of vehicles and properties. For example, its Car division has policies for high performance vehicles, classic cars and modified motors, as well as motorbikes, quads and trikes. Meanwhile, through its Household department, Flux is one of the few to cover unusual risks such as thatched homes and unoccupied properties.

"Many of these clients will own a portfolio of properties - we have policies that can cover them even when some are unoccupied for a period of time," says Carter. "And if they have classic cars we can offer agreed values for them, so that they are insured for their full market value, as opposed to what the official data says they are worth."

Flux Private Clients will also be able to look after commercial properties. "We’ll tailor the policy to suit the client’s needs - with options like business interruptions, employer liability and so on," adds Carter.

"Because we have so much specialist knowledge in-house, we can manage a client’s insurances effectively, however non-standard or unusual some of the risks may be.  A service like this isn’t for everyone, but for people who own several properties or vehicles it will be a real bonus, saving time and making life a whole lot easier."

Flux Private Clients is part of the Adrian Flux Insurance Group. For information call 08700 772266, email household@adrianflux.co.uk or visit the website, www.adrianflux.co.uk, and click on the relevant button under the ‘Home Insurance’ section.

The Flux Babes are already the hottest thing to hit the insurance business and Adrian Flux Insurance Services intends to make them even hotter by adding more Babes to the ranks. And the great news is that anyone visiting the Flux Babes website www.fluxbabes.co.uk not only gets an eyeful of the delightful Flux Babes but also gets a chance to look at all the new contenders and vote for their favourite girl.

There are sixteen beautiful new girls to choose from but only the five with the most votes will join their colleagues as fully fledged Flux Babes. Of course, the Flux Babes aren’t just pretty faces - they’re all insurance executives at Flux’s East Winch offices. Most of them deal with the customers daily, speaking on the phone, developing the right insurance package, helping with claims and so on.

But instead of sharpening their pencils in the Flux offices at the moment the girls are busy sharpening up their acts and canvassing for votes. Getting to be a Flux Babe is a sought after position.

“It’s fun being a Flux Babe,” says Laura, one of the original Flux Babes. “We get to swap our work clothes for skimpy glamour outfits and do some real modelling. It makes a change from being in the office. But it’s still hard work!”

It’s easy to vote for your favourites and everyone who votes will get a chance to win two VIP tickets to the Adrian Flux French Car Show at Rockingham on Sunday 22nd June, 2008 plus a Sat Nav system to make sure they get there. All you have to do is click on your choice to register your entry. The Flux Babes can be seen in the flesh throughout the summer at various car shows including the Adrian Flux French Car Show.

Visit the Flux Babes Website at www.fluxbabes.co.uk to read all about the Flux Babes, see hundreds of pictures from various shows and photoshoots, watch a special Flux Babe video and download a Flux Babe screensaver and game.
To contact Adrian Flux Insurance freephone 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage on www.adrianflux.co.uk

A new scheme promises the Jersey islanders cheaper insurance on their cars, motorbikes and homes. Adrian Flux Insurance Services says its Island scheme could cut costs by 50%, or even more, for many everyday insurance products.

“Insurance costs on Jersey are too high,” says Flux’s Gerry Bucke. “People here are currently paying over the odds for policies that don’t take into account the lower risk factors of living on the island.

“For example, with car and motorbike insurance many companies base their rates on statistics for the UK as a whole, and fail to take into account the lower speeds, lower crime and safer roads of Jersey. Even allowing for the fact that many of the cars here are high value, the rates are still too high. And the same is true with home insurance.”

Flux developed its Island scheme in partnership with several leading underwriters who have accepted the company’s analysis of the data. Gerry Bucke comments: “It will make significantly cheaper insurance available to everyone on Jersey. We spoke to one Jersey motorist who had been paying over £400 for his car insurance. We were able to cut his premium down to just over £120.”

Flux gives these examples of car insurance costs under its new scheme: a 23 year old male, driving a BMW Mini, would pay £293 per year; and a 48 year old, with a Jaguar X-type, would pay just £208. For motor bikers and quad riders the costs are equally competitive.  A 35 year-old riding a Honda CBR 600 may pay less than £198 per year with Flux, while a 25 year old on a Quadzilla 250 could pay just over £184.  (All quotes are fully comprehensive, except the Quad, which is third party fire & theft, and are subject to the driver’s circumstances. Terms & conditions apply).

Flux’s Island scheme will offer similarly low rates for house insurance on Jersey. For example, for a detached house with building cover of £200,000 and contents of £30,000 (new for old), the annual insurance premium would be around £145, assuming five years no claims discount.

Find out more about the Flux Island scheme by calling 73 63 53 or visiting www.adrianflux.je. The new scheme is registered with the Jersey FSA.

Notes for editors

Adrian Flux Insurance Services is one of the UK’s leading specialist insurers, focusing on niche markets and offering a huge range of schemes for motorists, motorbikes and householders. With over 30 years experience, the company offers highly competitive rates and a service tailored to the individual needs of the policyholder.

For more information see the company’s main website www.adrianflux.co.uk

The Island Scheme has been specifically developed for the Chanel Isles and has dedicated local phone quote lines and websites.  

Adrian Flux Insurance Services is happy to provide sample quotes for any car, bike or house for editorial purposes.

Adrian Flux French Car Show,Sunday 22nd June 2008, Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants

Fancy flying round the 150mph-banked curves at the Rockingham International Motorsport Circuit? If you’re a budding racer, or just fancy giving it a go, you can - at the 2008 Adrian Flux French Car Show.

Last year broke all records and this year’s Show is another feast of cars, action and French motor-mania - and once again the Flux Babes will be adding glamour to the proceedings. There are loads of adrenalin-charged shows and events planned, including a visit from the Driftworks team, who’ll be demonstrating the wonderful world of drifting with stunts and races. Then there’s the modified motors, the trade stands, the show & shine competitions - “The buzz around this Show is just brilliant ” says Gerry Bucke of sponsors Adrian Flux Insurance Services. “The organisers get it bang on the button - there’s loads of stuff to do and see. Anyone who loves cars should get here.”

Wherever there’s ‘Flux’ and ‘French’ in the same sentence, you can expect the Flux Babes to be on hand. They’ll be handing out goodies and urging people to visit their brand new website, as well as showing how to get some extra special insurance deals.  

But there’s no doubt that one of the key attractions this year is the chance to book a drive on Rockingham’s full International circuit - Europe’s fastest racing circuit. With operating garages, pit stops and the 52,000 seater grandstand, it’s the whole race experience.

“This is a really exciting and unique opportunity for car enthusiasts,” says show organiser Mark Dow. “Most track days are held on circuits that are converted airfields - but this is the UK’s only purpose-built circuit to be built since Brooklands in 1908. In fact, it’s the only circuit of its kind in Europe.” 

Tickets for the Adrian Flux French Car Show cost £15 on the gate, or £12.50 in advance (children under 12 free). For more information email sales@frenchcarshow.co.uk, call 0845 838 0824, visit www.frenchcarshow.co.uk or catch the latest news on the Adrian Flux French Car Show blog at http://frenchcarshow.blogspot.com

For details about special deals and cheap insurance for French cars, contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage on www.adrianflux.co.uk

The Flux Babes website will also carry information on the Adrian Flux French Car Show - visit www.fluxbabes.co.uk  

Fans of InFlux, the prestige motor and biking magazine from Adrian Flux Insurance, can now read it online.   Originally available as a conventional magazine only to dealers and select customers of Adrian Flux and Bikesure in limited quantities, InFlux has been made available in three online formats on www.influx.co.uk

You can view the articles individually in a conventional website, download them as a PDF for offline viewing (or for printing out) or view the complete magazine online in ‘interactive’ format, complete with ‘turning pages’.

But www.influx.co.uk is more than just an online version of the magazine. It also includes extra material the editors couldn’t find space for in the printed version, as well as a photo gallery and videos.

InFlux magazine has superb editorial, luxury glossy production values and was originally commissioned so that dealers could have something interesting and exciting to offer customers in their showrooms.   The twice-yearly magazine - published by Future Publishing and now on its third issue - has met with universal praise.

“We commissioned InFlux because as motoring enthusiasts ourselves we knew that a good magazine can make a difference to how a customer feels about a dealer,” said Gerry Bucke of Adrian Flux. “It says a lot about a dealer if they’ve got something of this quality on show - or to give to a good customer to take home. Obviously, from our point of view it reflects well on us too, at the critical stage where a new car will need insurance.

“But producing unlimited copies of a free magazine is expensive, so not everyone can get hold of them. The online version allows everyone to read it.”

The most recent edition covers racing, modified cars, bikes, concepts, superbrands, modifieds, luxury hounds and oily-rag enthusiasts, legends and rebels, drifting and classics.   Issue 4 is due out in the spring.

InFlux has been produced by Future Publishing - the name behind enthusiast titles such as Mini Magazine, Fast Bikes and Total Vauxhall.  

Adrian Flux aims to offer cheaper car insurance and has a huge range of policies for the motoring enthusiast. For details contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 505 3000, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage on www.adrianflux.co.uk