Owning your own is something that almost everyone aspires to do but few realise the amount of work owning a property can be. This workload can almost double if you decide to refurbish it and modernise it. The reasons behind a refurbishment vary, some homeowners merely want to freshen up living spaces and make the home more habitable others will plan a refurbishment in order to ease the sale of the property and increase its value. No matter why you plan on doing it here are five helpful refurbishment tips.
Preparation
Before you start any home refurbishment you should have a clear plan of what you want to achieve and how it will be completed. You may choose to DIY but refurbishment takes a lot of work and this is only advised if you’re really competent. Hiring builders and skilled tradesman will usually lead to a better quality of finish so it is always worth investing in these services. Before you choose tradesman to work on your property get at least three quotes for the job and seek out references for the tradespeople. This could mean going and viewing their previous work or simply speaking to old clients on the telephone.
Adding Value
There are so many different options for refurbishing a property, you can modernise bathrooms, the kitchen or just give it a lick of paint. However when it comes to adding value some changes will cost much more then they are worth. A survey by the National Association of Estate Agents found that adding space is the key to increasing value. A loft conversion could add 10% to the value of your home but it could cost up to £40,000 to complete. In comparison a new kitchen could add 5% to your homes value but should only cost around £8,000. Choosing the right projects is key to adding value to your home.
Energy Efficiency
In the last few years there has been a growing trend for making energy efficient refurbishments. These will not only add value to your home but also can reduce costs in the long term and create a better living environment. Changing to double glazed windows, adding insulation and switching to energy efficient heating systems, will create a home that stores heat inside better and will lead to savings on your energy bill. Whenever planning a renovation make sure you try and factor in as many of these changes as possible.
Decoration
Planning how you want your home to look after the refurbishment is key and it is worth carefully researching interior design styles to make sure you achieve a finished look that suits you. Deciding early upon a colour palette will make shopping for fittings and furnishings much easier. Try looking through websites like Pinterest for inspiration. If your refurbishment is for resale then make sure you choose neutral colours that will appeal to any potential new owners.
Clear Out The Junk
Over time we all let the amount of clutter in our homes build up but not only does this create cramped living conditions it can also reduce the value of your home. Before commencing any major refurbishment you need to do this because otherwise your clutter will just get in the way of on-going projects. Consider hiring a skip if you have a lot of junk but a waste collection service is a cheaper and easier option. Our wait and load service offers a collection time convenient for you and our fleet gives us the adaptability to offer this service to any homeowner. This service can also be used to clear out waste created from renovation works.
Remember renovating your home is a difficult challenge; these refurbishment tips along with careful planning should help ensure that your project goes smoothly.
