DIY dos and DIY don'ts!

The sun is shining and the long Summer evenings make us feel like we have plenty of time in the day. Plenty of time to get on with all of those jobs that we kept putting off during Winter! For many of us now is the best time to get out our tools and fix things that have been bothering us and upgrade our homes. 

However, you should always keep in mind that any DIY you do to your property should not just create a better and more enjoyable home for yourself and your family but should also add value to your property when you decide to sell it.

You may be surprised to know that some DIY projects can actually devalue your home and DIY disasters can cost homeowners 1000s of pounds to fix.  

Be realistic

We all know it's tempting to try and save some money by doing jobs around our homes ourselves but if you are not particularly gifted at DIY then consider getting a professional in to help. 

Start small

Small jobs are a great place to start building up your skills and your confidence. Start by replacing broken light bulbs, oiling creaky hinges and fixing broken kitchen cabinet handles. If small jobs are neglected in your home then it can give the impression to visitors or potential buyers that your home is not cared for and may cause them to worry that there are bigger problems that they have not noticed. 

First impressions

Once you have finished all the small jobs the first thing that should get your attention is the front of your home. It is true that first impressions matter and whether you want to increase your kerb appeal in order to attract potential buyers or if you would simply like to impress your guests, the state of the front of your home is the first thing that they will see. A fresh coat of paint on your front door and a clean and tidy front path will make your home a welcoming place to visit. Not convinced? Good kerb appeal can add 2-3% to the value of your home!

Bathrooms

Beware of removing baths in favour of trendy wet rooms. These can actually devalue your home as properties without baths are less attractive to families. This will decrease the pool of people your home attracts which means less competition for your property which can lead to a lower sale price.  

No DIY  

If you are no good at DIY and can't afford to hire the help of professionals then there are many things that you can do to improve your home that require no DIY skills at all. Decluttering your home can have a huge effect on the feel of your home as can a deep clean. 

If you are considering a big DIY project or major renovation then do give us a call on 01698 441327 to discuss how it will affect your property price. Not all projects will add value to your home and you should also be aware of the maximum price that your properties will sell for in your area to avoid spending more than you can recoup. 

We are always happy to give you our professional opinion on any renovation plans that you may have so please do give us a call on 01698 441327.