We all know the usual tricks about making your home more appealing to potential buyers – baking bread, brewing some coffee and adding a few fresh flowers around the place. But when it comes to cold, hard cash, how can you add some solid value to the price of your home?

We’ve helped plenty of people spruce up their properties before putting them on the market, and if you’re thinking of selling your home, here are our top tips for maximising your profit.

Convert your garage or loft

Adding an extra room to your house and significantly boost your property’s selling price. A stunning conversion can add serious wow-factor to your home. A study by GE Money found that a loft conversion can add anywhere between £22,00 and £45,00 to the value of your home.

Some loft conversions require planning consent while others fall under permitted development, so check details with your local authority before proceeding with any work.

Add a conservatory

A well-built conservatory can add excellent value to your home. Make sure your new conservatory is in keeping with the style of the rest of your house, to avoid that ‘stuck on’ look.

Combined kitchen/living/dining areas are highly desirable to modern buyers and a conservatory could be the best way to add this all-important extra space. An expertly designed conservatory will give a sense of flow in your living area and open out to make the most of your garden. Phil Spencer of Location, Location, Location fame, reckons a conservatory can add around 7 per cent to your home value.

Update your windows

New windows can really make your home shine. When choosing new windows it’s important to go with a style that suits the rest of your house so the overall effect is congruent rather than mismatched. Pick from our range of uPVC casement, timber casement, sash and case or hybrid windows.

Revamp your kitchen

For many potential buyers, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Make it a space potential buyers can visualise living in. A contemporary kitchen with plenty of surface space and a tasteful colour scheme will help your house appeal to a wide audience. According to This Is Money a new kitchen can increase your house value by 6 per cent.

Beautify your bathroom

Even little changes to your bathroom can maximise its appeal. Update the fixtures and fittings or get a flashy shower installed to boost your house value. However, if your bathroom suit looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 1970s, it’s time to upgrade to a newer model.  If you need some inspiration, check out our blog post on the top bathroom trends for 2018.

Bring the garden closer

Increasingly, homeowners are becoming aware of the soothing benefits of having greenery close to their living space. A sunroom is an excellent way to let more natural light into your home, whilst also offering fantastic views out to the garden.

If you want to add value to your home with an extension, conversion or something else, talk to us today about how we can help.

 

With a new year ahead, you may be thinking of giving your bathroom a new lease of life. Before you pick up a paintbrush or choose your tiles, take a moment to browse our round up of the best bathroom design trends for 2018. Find out what’s hot right now and pick a suite, shower, fittings and colour scheme you’ll love for years to come.

 

  • Monochrome

First up, the black and white bathroom trend of 2017 looks set to continue throughout this year. And it’s easy to see why: black and white is a timeless colour scheme which oozes stylish sophistication. Monochrome has replaced the all-white bathroom design as a minimalist staple, since it’s classy and suits many different sizes of bathroom and types of home. Check out some of these black and white bathrooms we found on Pinterest for inspiration…

     

  1. Metallics

The love for everything rose gold may be waning, but metallics in the bathroom are still bang on trend. Think gold, brass and brushed metals. Plus metallic fittings look absolutely incredible when combined with the aforementioned black and white trend. What’s not to love?

     

  1. Marble

This pretty rock became a top look in 2017 and looks like it’s here to stay. You’ll find it on walls, floors, bath panels and sinks, and when combined with natural materials like wood, it’s simply stunning.

  1. Brown

Brown may not be the first colour that springs to mind when you think of a new bathroom colour scheme… but the shade is tipped for the top in 2018, and rumoured to be the new neutral hue of choice for interior designers this year. Move aside grey.

  1. Clever storage

Making clever use of space is always going to be in fashion. If you want to maximise the space in your bathroom, then embrace the clever storage trend with slimline cabinets, shower alcoves and hidden compartments in your bathroom.

  1. His & hers bathrooms

Do you hate waiting for your other half to finish in the bathroom? You’re not alone. Double wash basins, bathtubs for two, and even double showers are becoming an increasingly popular solution for business households. Ideal if you can’t bear to be away from your beloved for too long.

     

  1. BIG tiles

Subway tiles may have been popular over the last few years, but it looks like tiles are going to be getting much bigger from here on. Big bathroom tiles give the illusion of space and also there’s less grout to clean, so what’s not to love?!

  1. Matte

The matte finish is a contemporary way to finish off your bathroom decor. Choose matte black taps, or matte paint and tiles for a look that’s bang on trend right now.

  1. Natural lighting

Depending on the existing layout of your bathroom, you may need to organise a little renovation work if you want to quite literally let the light in this year. We offer a selection of windows to suit any style of bathroom and home, so you can relax in one of the most important rooms of the house.

  1. Geometric tiles

Along with big tiles, more complex tile shapes are also set to make an impact in 2018. Think hexagons, trapezoids, and parallelograms and all those other fancy shapes you learnt about in school.

What’s your favourite bathroom design trend for 2018? If you’d like to give your bathroom a little TLC, get in touch.

 

Do you have some home improvements in mind this year? There’s no better time than the present to start planning for your spring renovations.

Planning for your renovation will depend on the size and scope of the work you wish to have carried out. With all types of home improvement, the key to success is doing your research and ensuring your budget is in line with your expectations.

Here are some of the things you should consider when planning your spring renovations…

Check the condition

First up, make sure the area of your home where you want to do some renovations is up to scratch. If you suspect damp, subsidence or even an infestation of pests, it’s best to call in an expert to check out the situation before any work commences.

Check your guttering if you’re having any exterior work done. Climbing plants can also cause problems and the elements can take their toll on your roof. Many homeowners fail to clean their gutters regularly causing an overflow into their wall cavity and creating thousands of pounds worth of damage which isn’t generally covered by home insurance.

If your planned renovation includes any form of plumbing, such as in the kitchen or bathroom, it’s also a good idea to get your pipes and drains checked too. Nowadays many companies offer a free survey to check before work commences but it is always handy to keep a little bit of your budget aside for the unforeseeable.

Draw up your design

From bathrooms to kitchens, it always pays to have a visual representation of your finished renovation. You can draw up your ideas yourself or cut images from your favourite magazines and take them to your installer who should be able to draw it up as a 3D visual.

Get a survey

Most home improvements require a survey to ensure the work can be carried out and obtain exact measurements for any products to be ordered. External works that add space to your home or change the structure often require permission from the local authority, although you may be able to proceed without one under the new Permitted Development rights.

Deal with the paperwork

If your planned renovation does not fall under permitted development rights (such as building into a roof space or garage) you will need to look into planning permission, building regulations and even listed building consent if applicable. You can find details about planning permission and building regulations at planningportal.co.uk.

Set your budget

It is important to be realistic with your budget and expectations, as every designer or supplier is led by your requirements and the last thing they want to do is offer you something which you cannot afford. The good news is many companies now stock alternatives to most items so they can work with all budgets, for example tiles and tiling can be expensive but new stylish wall panelling is generally cheaper, easier to install and does the same job!

Find inspiration

Now for the fun bit! Browse websites like Houzz or Pinterest to find endless inspiration for every room of your house. You could also make a vision board to collect all of your ideas in one place and see how the bigger picture fits together. We’re experts in helping people realise their home improvement visions, so talk to us today about your forthcoming renovation plans.