24 January 2019

Home Improvements for 2019

There is no better time to look ahead and make plans for your home at the beginning of the year.

Are you looking to increase your home’s value with a view to moving? Or is there renovation work you no longer want to put off?

The best time to make plans for home improvements is at the beginning of the year.

 

Repainting external doors and windowsills

Typical Welsh weather can leave doors and windowsills looking worn. Regularly repainting them is a quick way to make your home look fresh again – without seriously breaking the bank. A large pot of paint can cost approximately £30, depending on the brand and colour.

 

Fitting double glazing

Designed to reduce heat loss from the home and therefore decrease your heating bills, double-glazing is an investment that could increase the value of your home.

However, the switch side of this is that it could cost several thousands of pounds. For this reason, a popular choice for many households is to take on this work in small sections of the home over the course of several months.

If you’re getting a few windows or doors double-glazed at the same time, you may even be able to strike a deal. Don’t be afraid to ask.

 

Invest in the garden

A well-kept garden can be the showstopper of a property and certainly somewhere to focus your attention in 2019, if you’re keen to add value to your home.

Some of the bigger jobs, such as adding a patio or decking area, could be costly depending on the size of your garden.

If your garden isn’t in dire need of a complete makeover, you can keep it in good condition by doing some bits yourself.  Getting rid of weeds, cutting back overgrown shrubs and painting fences are relatively easy jobs that can make a real difference to your outdoor area.

 

Adding a conservatory

While this is a large structural project, it’s one that doesn’t usually take very long to complete – often within a month. A conservatory adds an extra room to your home, which can increase the value of the property as a result.

Before committing to this, think carefully about whether a conservatory is suited to your property. Do you have views to look out at? Will the conservatory fit the style of the house or look out of place? And finally: will enough natural light come in to the room to make it worthwhile?

 

Getting a new kitchen

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, so for potential buyers this will likely be an extremely important area of the house and, potentially, a decisive factor.

Updating your kitchen or creating an open plan kitchen-living space can add both value and atmosphere to a property.

New kitchen units, a new oven, repainting – and so on – can cost a few thousand pounds. An even larger scale extension, to create a kitchen-diner, will cost even more and require longer term planning before work can commence.

Both of these home improvements will have an effect on your living space for some time – for instance not having access to a kitchen for a few weeks at a time. Think carefully about whether it is the right time to take on this work. You will also need to find out if you need to obtain planning permission and follow any building regulation guidelines.

Published: 24/01/2019