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Improving your home
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| Edwardian conservatory from Wickes, a great way to add extra living space to your home |
IT'S AMAZING what improvements can achieve - whether they're investments such as a new kitchen or bathroom - or simply giving your home a spring facelift with a lick of paint and some new accessories.
And you might be surprised to find that you're probably not using the space you have. Recent research by Yorkshire Bank found that while housebuyers stretch their finances in the pursuit of more room, most end up not using it.
The poll discovered that one in four people had at least one room that remained largely unused - usually a spare bedroom or dining room, lying empty until Christmas.
Gary Lumby, head of retail for Yorkshire Bank says; "While location still tops the charts of 'must haves', space is now the new frontier. However, once we've got it - and in most cases paid a premium for it - we don't often use it the way we intended.
"So instead of moving house every time they need more space, a significant number of people are looking at houses they can grow into and extend."
Making a home more comfortable and desirable - and ensuring all the space works hard - so it's more enjoyable to live in can't be a bad move. Also, it'll pay dividends if you finally decide to put it on the market.
Follow our guide to adding thousands to your home's value and turning it into your perfect property.
KEY STEPS TO CREATING A DES RES
FIRST SMARTEN UP
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| Revolutionise your living room by replacing the carpet with real wooden flooring and add a fireplace |
"The biggest mistake people make is not keeping their house in good condition by carrying out regular maintenance, says celebrity builder, Tommy Walsh, who's a DIY advisor to Wickes.
"Keeping up with repairs is vital, not just so that it's comfortable to live in, but also, if you decide you want to move, then its condition will really count.
"If prospective buyers see leaking pipes and flaking paintwork they'll worry that other more major jobs - like subsidence, damp patches and cracks - have also been neglected - potentially landing them with big bills if they buy your property."
TOMMY'S TIPS: Do the basics - ensure drains and pipes are working properly, and there are no leaks in them or the roof.
Grab Kerb Appeal: If you can't afford to repaint, wash down exterior woodwork, downpipes and paintwork. Treat exposed timber like gates and fences with preservative.
For top tips on home DIY projects and advice on getting the best out of tradespeople there's a new Wickes booklet, How to Cope with Building Works, available at its stores nationwide or downloadable from www.wickes.co.uk
THINK KITCHENS
A smart kitchen can send the price of your home rocketing, according to research by Halifax. It found that 29% of would-be buyers regarded a newly-fitted kitchen as the most value-adding improvement, with the National Association of Estate Agents estimating it can add 21% to value.
Homeowners are now so fashion conscious about kitchen style that, in general, they renovate the room every three to five years.
But if you're seeking the right style, bear in mind that the trend is for kitchens to double as family rooms if space allows. So opt for wood finishes and coloured units to achieve a warmer and less sanitised look than the industrial style of a few years back.
Jim Barnard at Wickes says: "More than ever the kitchen is the heart of the home with two thirds of us saying we prefer to socialise and entertain in the kitchen - rather than the living room or family room."
TOMMY'S TIPS: Splurge on the worktops for your kitchen so they make a visual statement and good quality will ensure they last. Granite or marble, or even concrete, are in vogue but laminate can also impress and ideally opt for a specialist in worktops, rather than buying from the store where you buy your units.
Tiling ranges have hugely expanded in recent years and the choice is enormous. Coloured glass tiles are currently particularly fashionable, especially teamed with glossy white units.
DECOR POWER
Some experts believe that sub-standard DIY can knock £10,000 off the value of a home, and major plumbing, wiring or construction jobs should be left to the experts.
But decorating's not difficult and can give a home a great facelift.
TOMMY'S TIPS: "Planning is key to success, so you should write a list of what you want to do, the tools and materials involved and how long you think it will take.
"Decorating often goes horribly wrong because people rush into it, don't clear out the room properly, and under-estimate how much time it will take."
If wallpapering, always buy an extra roll so you have spare paper in the event of mistakes or damage.
If you can't empty the room, move furniture into the middle and cover with dust sheets. Take up carpet and underlay.
If you are painting work from the top down ie: ceiling, walls and then woodwork. Use a flat finish emulsion, as silk will highlight every mark and uneven surface on your walls. Similarly, use eggshell on timber, particularly old timber, as it helps mask flaws and dents in the wood.
If painting new timber use knotting fluid to prevent knots falling out, then use primer, undercoat and a top coat. For the best finish Tommy advises two coats of top coat. After the first coat is completely dry use fine sandpaper to get a smooth finish, then wipe clean with a rag lightly dipped in white spirit before applying second coat.
BATHROOM BLITZ
Once a dreary, cold place for a wash and brush up, these rooms are now all-singing all-dancing sanctuaries where we relax and unwind. So much so, we now spend as much on bathroom furniture as we do on bathroom suites.
Designer Linda Barker says: "Doing up a bathroom will really benefit a property. It should be more than a white suite - think about creating a spa effect - low voltage ceiling lights and a set of plush towels could transform that room.
"And spend time sourcing the right basin, there's a great range of styles out there to give your room an individual look, and teamed with great tiles - glass or stone - your room will have individual style."
TOMMY'S TIPS:Choose white sanitary ware because it never dates and if you've got the space a free-standing bath is a luxurious look.
Never carpet a bathroom, it's impractical and looks wrong. Stone tiles or lino is ideal - ceramic tiles can be slippery - and it's well worth investing in underfloor heating. Cast iron or brushed steel baths keep water hotter, although as they're heavy you probably need a builder to fit.
Avoid tiling the entire bathroom, or using emulsion with a sheen as you may suffer from more condensation problems.
BIG UP YOUR HOME
One of the surest ways to improve a home is to add to it, and Government figures show that planning applications have doubled over the last 10 years.
According to the National Association of Estate Agents, a well-designed extension could increase the price of a property by 10%. Garages, which can cost between £15,000 and £40,000 to convert, can recoup their costs.
But do remember that the average price of properties in your area will dictate the maximum asking price of your property - so don't overspend beyond your home's market value as you may not get the return.
Recent research by Dulux discovered that 75% of homes have an unconverted loft space that if made into a room could increase value by up to 20%. If that room includes a room with a bathroom it could add a further 5%.
A conversion can cost around £15,000 plus and you may need planning permission, but it's a hit with buyers as around 44% of people would opt for a home that had this potential according to a survey by agents.
Adding a conservatory is the third most popular improvement after a new kitchen and bathroom.
If you decide to go ahead ensure it has heating and blinds so its usable all year round, and make sure its style suits your property and doesn't eat up too much garden space.
Expect to pay anything from £5,000 to £20,000, and it's likely you could recoup 50 to 75% of the installation costs when you sell your property.
An extra toilet (especially if it's downstairs) always features on the wish list of property buyers. This needn't be expensive if you convert the space under the stairs. If you're on a budget you could fit one out for around £200 by using appliances from Homebase. Its compact basin costs £39.99, toilet, £154.98.
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