The Christmas lights have disappeared, it’s cold, and it seems like summer is so far in the future that it’s never going to happen, while you want to go back to the Christmas holidays, when you could relax with friends and family and plenty of good food. 

Soon it will be spring, and with it comes renewal. So why not make a little effort now to usher in some change? Here's some inspiration and a few practical tips for you to try that will help you shake off the January blues. 

Try something new 

The best way to snap out of the same old cycle is to try new things. If you are not ready to get back to your usual exercise routine, then perhaps you could try doing some home improvements. Let’s start with some simple things. 

Let there be light 

Simply adding more light to your home is a great way to create a better environment and a more cheerful living space. Soft lighting, which creates a warm and homely feel, is one way this can be achieved. 

Mirrors 

Hanging mirrors near windows will reflect more light and add another dimension to any room. It’s a complete illusion of course, but it works, as a blank, oppressive wall seems to suddenly become another room. 

You can rely on nature 

The lines between indoor and outdoor living are rapidly disappearing in this post-pandemic world. Bring some of nature’s wonderful colours and smells indoors by adding a few extra plants, flowers, or even fruit trees to uplift any room in your home. 

Furniture   

Whether your furniture consists of modern items, antiques, or even a freebies sourced from Facebook; sand things down, restore them, or simply paint them. Perhaps you already own the perfect table that, when painted, will transform your dining room. Sideboards and cabinets painted in bright colours are on-trend, or if you prefer the classic look, it will make you feel great and complete a room. 

Change your surroundings 

Pictures, paintings, and collectibles — authentic art that has been hand-painted by artists and captures the beautiful scenery of a place you love — are a great way to help alter your surroundings. Antique dealers always have something small and affordable, but if cost is not a concern, add to an exquisite collection. You can even get creative and make something with wood, or maybe photography or sewing is your thing! 

Get out and enjoy some viewings 

Perhaps you are determined to move and do not want to spend a single pound on anything in your home. If that’s the case, rid yourself of the January blues by going to see potential properties. Online viewings are an awesome way to see multiple homes, but there is no substitute for house viewings, to see if you get that special homely feeling. 

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How to add value to your home  

Adding value to your home is straightforward. Making money often involves spending money when it comes to investments, and your home is no different! Whether you are looking for a quick flip or a total revamp, it’s important to make the right choices.    

Below, we discuss the best ways to add real value to your home... 

A few ground rules 

Do not overspend! Make sure your changes are impactful and necessary. If a refurbishment adds to the quality of your living space, then do it, just don’t get carried away. 

Be resourceful, shop around conduct plenty of research. Don’t just sign on the dotted line in a branded store, consider independent tradespeople to carry out the work, they may do a better job for less.   

Kitchen or bathroom?  

If the kitchen is in good shape but the bathroom is crying out to be replaced, then you may get more for your money by choosing a bathroom renovation.  

It could be that you need to do both the kitchen and the bathroom, arguably the two most impactful, important and costly rooms in the house.  

A new bathroom can add up to 5% to the value of your house while a new kitchen can add up to 15%, do the maths and see what you can reasonably spend. Then, enjoy the quality of new tiles, colours, materials, and cabinets with a new space-altering layout.   

Loft conversions  

Loft conversion can add between 10 – 20% to the value of your home, but be warned this is not an easy task. Firstly, check if you can convert your loft, beam heights are critical here, so you will need to get a reputable builder to give a good appraisal. There is lots of red tape involved in creating a new bedroom, office or bathroom in your loft. The good news is that this is often much cheaper than adding an extension to your property.  

Garden and outdoor living spaces 

A nice garden with outdoor living space is almost like adding another room to your house. Be careful, a few shrubs and trees with maybe some decking and already you have spent thousands. Perhaps not as guaranteed to add the same levels of added value to your home as other areas but still worth doing and will complement the entire living experience of your home. Bifold doors removing the traditional boundaries between an indoor and outdoor living will enhance this further.  

Energy efficiency  

A new heating system is not a massive investment and will save money on energy bills and easily add more than the cost of replacing the system, while not putting potential buyers off with the prospect of replacing the boiler.  

Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular. It’s an attractive proposition, particularly in today’s climate; to be self-sufficient when it comes to producing electricity. In some cases, you may even be able to supply the local electricity board and get paid!  Lower your carbon footprint or consider running your car to gain more savings. 

The little things you can do 

Sand and paint internal and external doors and skirting. 

Check out your floorboards, in older houses often these can be sanded and varnished and will look beautiful on completion.  

If you can’t afford to replace tiles and cabinets, consider painting them.  

Improve or replace lighting and light fittings. 

Sort any damp problems. 

Replace carpets or old laminate.  

 Bad bathroom grouting often brings the value of a home down far more than the relatively low cost of getting it sorted.  

Check the guttering.  

Replace windows and doors.  

Paint and decorate the internal walls and remember, if you are selling soon, use safe, neutral colours. 

It’s all good 

Whatever you decide to do, all these measures, and any you think of on the way, will add value to your home in more ways than one!    

Just finished your home refurbishment, wondering what it’s now worth? Get a valuation for your next move.   

Emergency property issues aren’t good for tenants or landlords, and the best way to safeguard against these potential nightmares is to take preventative measures before they arise. Then you can sleep soundly at night in the knowledge that you have done everything you can to drastically decrease the odds of a costly, dangerous, or life-threatening emergency. 

Carry out these safety checks regularly 

Gas: A Gas Safety Certificate is a legal annual requirement. It's perhaps the most obvious and well-known of all home safety certificates, but it's less known that it applies to all gas appliances, not just your gas boiler. 

Electrical: All fixed electrical appliances need to be inspected and tested every five years by a qualified electrician. 

Don’t forget the fuse box: If you are letting your property, you might find that the existing fuse box is obsolete and does not meet current safety standards, so it's best to check this with a qualified electrician. 

Smoke alarms: It's not expensive, and it's a legal requirement that there's one installed on every floor. The potential damage caused without them can be catastrophic, cause death, and if fitted and not correctly maintained, can affect insurance coverage. 

Plumbing 

Drains: Blocked drains cause flooding, which in some cases leads to costly repairs and uninhabitable homes. Prevention is simple – all you need is a bottle of drain cleaner, which you can buy from any supermarket. 

Pipes: Insulating pipes is another inexpensive way to prevent a potentially hugely costly disaster. In winter, pipes contract in the cold and then heat up once in use. This repeated process can cause them to crack, leading to an even bigger leakage of money! 

Regular inspections 

It’s always a wise move to have a clause in your tenancy agreement that, with written permission requested, you can inspect your rental property within 24 to 48 hours. You can’t legally enter the property without the permission of the tenant, and this allows you to regularly check the state of your property should you feel the need to do so. 

Landlord insurance  

Differing greatly from conventional house insurance, a private residence policy will not cover you if you let your property. A good landlord insurance policy is worth every penny in the face of devastating risk; it covers damage, loss of rent, and legal expenses, plus almost anything else you feel could be a risk. A good conversation with a reputable insurance company is time well spent in order to find the right level of cover to protect your investment property. 

Make it happen 

Taking these measures now will keep your rental property safe and keep you informed of any maintenance or repair issues that may be on the horizon before they become major issues, so in terms of investment, they are no brainers! The good news is that all of this can be carried out by professionals, from insurance brokers, gas engineers to electricians. Getting in touch now with the right people won’t take long and could save you a lot of money! 

Need help finding the right tenants for your property? Contact us today.